Jordi Alba has not signed any agreement to rejoin Barcelona at the end of the season from Valencia, according to the player's agent.
Agent says they have not reached agreement
Jordi Alba has not signed any agreement to rejoin Barcelona at the end of the season from Valencia, according to the player's agent.
The Spain international full-back was reported by radio station
ONA FM to have penned a pre-contract deal with the Blaugrana, where he came through the youth ranks, in exchange for a fee up front.
Almost as soon as the news broke across the Catalan airwaves, the player's agent Vicente Fores spoke out to cateogrically deny that his client was ready to move to Camp Nou.
"It is absolutely false, a complete lie and a terrible thing for someone to say that Jordi has signed a contract with Barcelona," he stated.
"I am indignant that there was even the suggestion that there was a date put forward for when the contract had been signed.
"They said that Jordi's current contract runs out at the end of this season when in actual fact there is another year to run on top of that with Valencia.
Ridiculous
"That was followed with the claim that a deal was signed with Barca on March 8. It is just ridiculous. If we had done this then it would be considered to be illegal."
Instead of considering a move to Barcelona, Alba may in fact be ready to put pen-to-paper on an extension at Valencia.
"Soon we could close a deal to extend the contract that he has with the club and all this talk could spoil negotiations with Valencia," Fores continued.
"All of this does not benefit the player at all, mainly because it is a lie."
Alba comes from L'Hospitalet which borders Barcelona and spent seven years with the champions of the Spanish league before moving to Valencia in 2007 after a stint with Cornella.
Napoli interest
Recent months have also seen English giants Manchester United strongly linked with a move for his services, as well as Italian side Napoli.
And Fores, despite not wanting to unsettle contract negotiations with Valencia, admits that a departure cannot be ruled out.
"We have learned about Napoli's interest in him, but the Italian club have not yet made an offer," the agent later told
Radio Crc.
"Alba's contract is close to its end, so it is important that the clubs who are interested in him hurry.
"Valencia want him to renew his deal, but even if this happens, a transfer cannot be ruled out.
"If he signs a new contract, his release clause will be lowered, because €45million [£37.5m] is too much."
