Deportivo Pasto Overview

The 46-year-old retired more than a decade ago, but lower-league Italian side Ravenna insist that he'll return to action this weekend

Barcelona are living through one of their most difficult periods in recent years, not only in terms of results but also in terms of planning for the future. At a time when the team is suffering from a clear shortage in the heart of defence due to recurring injuries, coach Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco find themselves unable to act, because of the difficult financial situation that is tying the hands of the sporting management and making it harder to pursue their main options.

Young Ghanaian defender Hafiz Gariba has caught the eye at Barcelona Atletic, after becoming one of the key pillars in coach Giuliano Belletti's line-up, thanks to his defensive abilities and his capacity to build play from the back, alongside his pace and strength in aerial duels, amid growing interest from European clubs in signing him.

At a time when rumours have flared over the future of the young Egyptian star Hamza Abdelkarim, his father came out to put an end to all the speculation, affirming that his son is not thinking at all about leaving Barcelona during the upcoming winter transfer window in January, and that everything being said about his move to the Italian league is merely "fabricated" news with no basis in truth.