Ex-Club director and one time presidential candidate, Toni Freixa has come out to make claims that the club could be able to register a new player to replace injured midfielder Rafinha, as the transfer ban that was imposed on them by FIFA has now expired which means that paves the way for an early debut for either Arda Turan or Aleix Vidal.
Barcelona signed both players during the last summer window, despite FIFA sanction handed down on them after the club was found guilty of breaching FIFA rules on the transfer of players aged under 18.
There were little confusions as to whether Barcelona can now bring in Turan and Vidal, although it was later transpired that the duo can not be registered until the forthcoming 2016 transfer window ,when FIFA’s ban is widely reported to be coming to an end.
However, Freixa has now hinted the club that one among the duo could be able to play immediately as a replacement for the injured Rafinha ,who may be out for at least six months with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, due to the said sanction having expired as the just concluded summer transfer window closed on Aug. 31.
“Barca can register a replacement for Rafinha. Article 124.3 of the RFEF (Royal Spanish Football Federation) is clear and here FIFA have no authority,” he wrote on Twitter.
Barcelona will now have to unregister injured Rafinha, and request for permission from the RFEF to bring in another player to replace him outside of the normal transfer window, according to AS.
