Barca await Xavi's decision

Rio de Janeiro, July 14 (IANS/EFE) Barcelona's president Josep Maria Bartomeu said that he still awaits veteran midfielder Xavi Hernandez decision to stay or leave the club before the start of the new season.

Bartomeu, however, admitted that the Catalan club will atleast have two more new transfer deals soon, reports EFE. Barcelona have already signed goalkeepers, Chilean Claudio Bravo and German Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic and Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez.

"At least we have to replace Puyol, who has retired. Puyol has agreed to join as an assistant to sports director Andoni Zubizarreta. The remaining transfer deals are yet to be determined, but we might bring in two new players," said Bartomeu here.

A third signing might be to replace Xavi, whom Bartomeu said has the right to decide what he wants. Bartomeu said amidst the departure of several players such as Cesc Fabregas, Puyol and maybe Xavi, the team still has a young veteran player in Andres Iniesta.

"We have many talents in Barca B, like Deulofeu and Rafinha, but we did not find players like Rakitic or Suarez so we signed them," said the club president.

--IANS/EFE

abr/bg