After a summer long transfer saga of Afellay with a move linked with many European clubs, Afellay’s agent finally confirms that Afellay may leave Barcelona on a season long loan if a right offer comes in. The agent’s proposal has alerted a host of Europe’s leading clubs that were interested in seciring Affellay’s signature.
“Afellay could go out on loan for a year,” his representative, Rob Jansen, told Italian reporters over the weekend. “Yes, that is a possibility.”
Ibrahim Afellay’s agent claims his client could leave Barcelona on a season long loan
Afellay, 26, joined Barcelona from PSV Eindhoven in January 2011, and immediately played a key role in the club’s victorious Champions League campaign. He has since struggled to hold down a first-team place at the Camp Nou and missed most of last season with a serious cruciate ligament injury. He returned in time to play a part in all three games in Netherlands’ disappointing Euro 2012 campaign and has featured regularly for Barcelona in pre-season friendlies so far under new head coach Tito Vilanova, starting Saturday night’s penalty shootout win over Paris Saint-Germain. However, with Spain’s Euro 2012 players now back in contention, his opportunities are expected to be more limited.
Premier league sides Arsenal and Liverpool have been strongly linked with the Netherlands international, while Serie A clubs Inter Milan, Lazio, AC Milan and Fiorentina, as well as Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund and French club Lille, are also said to be interested.