Barca to decide Pinto future

Barcelona have yet to decide whether to use Jose Pinto as back-up goalkeeper next season or make two purchases this summer.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen is expected to join the club as the replacement for Victor Valdes, who has announced he will leave Camp Nou when his contract ends this summer.

But Pinto’s contract is also due to expire and no decision has yet been made regarding an extension, Mundo Deportivo reports.

The player has an agreement with director of football Andoni Zubizarreta not to ask about his status until the season is over and Pinto is said to be leaning towards the belief he will not be asked to stay.

It has been suggested that Pepe Reina could be drafted in as competition for ter Stegen and the Liverpool goalkeeper, currently on loan at Napoli, is waiting to hear from Barca.

Mundo adds, however, that Reina wants to know his future soon and Barca expect to have a decision by late February.

Barca have also yet to agree a fee with Borussia Monchengladbach for ter Stegen and that will have to be negotiated from a starting point of €12m.

The same meeting that decides the future of Pinto will see a number of players come up for discussion, most notably Carles Puyol.

Puyol’s future has yet to be clarified and all three possibilities – a new contract, retirement or allowing the captain to leave the club – are on the agenda.

New contracts for the likes of Alex Song, Alexis Sanchez, Cristian Tello and Dani Alves will also be discussed.

Tags Alexis Dani Alves Jose Pinto Pepe Reina Puyol Song Tello Ter Stegen Victor Valdes
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