Reported £14m Leeds and Everton target left out of squad; not in manager’s plans

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Rafinha Alcantara was left out of Ronald Koeman’s Barcelona side during a pre-season friendly as the reported Leeds United and Everton target closes in on a move away from Camp Nou, according to Marca.

The Koeman era began in earnest on Saturday as the crisis-hit Spanish giants edged Gimnastic 3-1 at home.

And while the presence of Lionel Messi would have warmed the hearts of everyone of a red-and-blue persuasion, not to mention the sight of under-fire trio Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho hitting the net, the absences from Koeman’s starting XI were just as interesting as the inclusions.

Arturo Vidal and Luis Suarez were nowhere to be seen as their much-publicised departures edge closer.

And, just days after Sport claimed Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton was first choice for seldom-seen playmaker Rafinha, he was persona non grata against Gimnastic too.

Marca claims the Brazil international, who has a £14 million release clause in his contract, was left out of the friendly as cash-strapped Barca look to find a buyer for a man who has started only 22 La Liga games for the Catalan giants since the start of 2015/16.

An ambitious Leeds United have also held talks with Barcelona, according to Sport, with Rafinha understood to be good friends with the Whites’ new record signing Rodrigo Moreno (Faro de Vigo).

The prospect of Rafinha swapping Camp Nou for Elland Road may seem unlikely – but then that’s what everyone said about Rodrigo and Marcelo Bielsa too.