Barcelona director Jordi Cruyff has, on Thursday, spoken out over the future of recent arrival Franck Kessie.
Ivorian international Kessie, of course, opted to take his talents to the Camp Nou during the summer.
Following the expiration of his contract with Serie A champions AC Milan, the 25-year-old linked up with the Blaugrana, hopeful of building on the kind of form which had seen him long considered one of Italian football’s best in the middle of the park.
All told, though, Kessie’s time in Spain has since proven underwhelming.
Across Barca’s 21 outings in all competitions to date, the one-time Atalanta standout has been afforded starts in just five.
This, of course, comes amid fierce competition for places in Catalunya, with all of Sergio Busquets, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Gavi too at the disposal of Xavi Hernandez.
The likes of former employers AC Milan, and, most recently, Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur FC, had been most hotly tipped as potential destinations.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of Kessie’s future was put to Barcelona chief Jordi Cruyff.
And those hopeful of seeing the midfielder stay put in a bid to prove himself worthy of a spot in Catalunya will no doubt be altogether enthused by the comments.
Cruyff, after confirming that Barca have no intention of parting with Kessie, crucially also went on to reiterate that ‘the player does not plan to leave, either’.
Barça director Jordi Cruyff: “We do not plan to sell Franck Kessié — and the player does not plan to leave either”. 🔵🔴 #FCB
“Nico is on loan for a full season, that was our idea from the start”. pic.twitter.com/bxiAQWZNmc
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 8, 2022
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