La Liga champions FC Barcelona are looking to exploit a potential loophole in the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) rules, which could allow them to register Turkey international Arda Turan ahead of schedule
Barcelona were dealt a major injury blow in their UEFA Champions League opener against AS Roma as midfielder Rafinha suffered a tear in his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), ruling him out for a period of at least six months.
With Luis Enrique’s squad already stretched thin and faced with a busy schedule, it appears Barcelona will try and alleviate some of the pressure on their players by making an attempt to register new signing Arda Turan ahead of schedule.
Barcelona to make FIFA plea in a bid to register Turan
The Catalan giants believe they have legitimate grounds to register former Atl tico Madrid winger Arda Turan in light of the injury to Rafinha, according to a report on ESPN FC. The Spanish league rules indicate that a club can sign a replacement outside the transfer window if a player were to suffer an injury causing him to miss five or more months of football.
Barcelona-based newspaper Sport suggests that although the treble winners will go to FIFA to try and register Turan, their chances of success are fairly limited because of the governing body’s dislike for the RFEF rule, which allows for the replacement of injured players.
Barcelona are trying to register Arda Turan! http://t.co/taf1Xho9NB
a SPORT English (@Sport_EN) September 22, 2015
According to RAC-1 radio (via Sport), Turan’s agent Ahmed Bulut is quoted as saying: “It will not be easy to convince FIFA. Arda didn’t think he would play until January, but he is ready. Arda feels at home at Barcelona. The injury to Rafinha is bad news – for him it would be good to play already.”
Arda Turan addition could be a pivotal moment in Barcelona’s season
Although Barcelona signed the likes of Aleix Vidal and Arda Turan in the summer, their transfer ban precluded them from registering players until the 2016 January transfer window. With Pedro departing for Chelsea FC, Luis Enrique’s squad is facing serious problems in terms of squad depth.
These problems were exacerbated by the loss of Rafinha, given the versatility of the 22-year-old, who has the ability to play on either flank. As such, if Barcelona were able to pull off the registration of Arda Turan, it could prove to be a pivotal moment in their season.
With matches coming thick and fast following the commencement of the UEFA Champions League group stages (a competition Turan would not be allowed to participate in even if Barcelona are successful in their appeal), an energetic, versatile player such as Turan would go a long way towards easing some of the pressure on what is a fairly thin squad right now.
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Whether FIFA will even entertain the possibility is what now remains to be seen.