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Kessie has made just two La Liga starts so far this campaign after moving to the Nou Camp in the summer from AC Milan, but has struggled to make the desired impact and boss Xavi has preferred the likes of Sergio Busquets, Pedri, Gavi and Frenkie de Jong.

Instead of leaving Barcelona in January, Kessie may have been told that his chances will come next season if Busquets leaves in the summer, and Barcelona president Joan Laporta has insisted that he has no intention of selling the Ivorian this month.

“I don’t have any intention of selling Kessie in January,” Laporta said. “He will continue to be important for us. We’re happy with our squad, the players will continue to be important over the rest of the season.”