Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has denied suggestions that the Spanish champions will actively attempt to sell Aleix Vidal in the January transfer window.
Vidal moved to Barcelona from Sevilla in the summer of 2015, although he was not cleared to make his official debut until the start of 2016 due to the club's transfer ban.
The 27-year-old did make 14 appearances in the second half of last season, but he has been firmly out of favour under Luis Enrique this season and it was widely thought that the right-back could depart in early 2017.
Bartomeu has claimed that Barcelona would consider Vidal's future if the player actively asked to leave, but the club have no firm plans to part with the Spaniard in the winter window.
"Aleix [Vidal] deserves all of our respect and we do not want anyone to leave in January. His exit is not planned. Another thing is that the player comes [to us] and says that he wants to leave, like what happened with Pedro," AS quotes Bartomeu as saying.
Sevilla and Valencia are among the clubs that have been credited with an interest in Vidal.
Matt Law
