Xavi confirms Miralem Pjanic is close to Barcelona exit

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Xavi confirms Miralem Pjanic is close to Barcelona exit

Barcelona manager Xavi has confirmed that Miralem Pjanic has agreed to leave the club in the coming days.

Emirati side Sharjah, who signed former Barcelona man Paco Alcacer on a free transfer earlier this summer, are in talks with Pjanic and are now looking to bring him in.

Xavi has previously stressed that he wanted to keep Pjanic around as part of his squad, but the Bosnia international has been an unused substitute during Barcelona's four La Liga games so far this year.

It is that lack of minutes which is behind Pjanic's imminent exit, with Xavi confirming: "Pjanic could help us but he wants to have more minutes and has decided to leave."

He added: "Pjanic has made a personal decision to be happier."

In Pjanic's place, Xavi has called up summer signing Pablo Torre. The 19-year-old, who is more of an attacking midfielder, is part of the squad to face Victoria Plzen in the Champions League on Wednesday.

"Pablo has been called up, but nothing changes," Xavi said. "He is another player and he is training very well."

Pjanic arrived at Camp Nou in the summer of 2020 for a fee of around €60m as part of the controversial swap deal that took Arthur to Turin for an initial €72m - a transfer which has not worked out for anyone involved.

The Bosnian has just 30 appearances for the club to his name, just six of which were La Liga starts, and he spent last season out on loan in Turkey with Besiktas.

Xavi had promised to give Pjanic a chance this season but the 32-year-old has opted to take his talents elsewhere.