Arda to replace injured Rafinha

The Brazil international is likely to miss most of the season after suffering cruciate ligament damage at the Stadio Olimpico and former Barca board member Toni Freixa revealed that the club are able to register another player in his place.

That means summer signing Arda Turan, who was expected to wait until January for his debut, could feature for the Catalan club in La Liga and the Copa del Rey ahead of schedule.

In information revealed by Catalunya Radio, Barca have officially asked for permission from Fifa and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to call up the Turkey midfielder in the two domestic competitions.