Barcelona Transfer News: Latest on Arda Turan Ruling and Nolito Rumours

FIFA have responded to Barcelona's request to register new signing Arda Turan before January, but the Catalan giants have complained about the vague nature of FIFA's response.

That's according to Sport, which notes that football's governing body failed to offer a definitive reply to its request, which has been prompted following Rafinha picking up a lengthy knee injury.

Sport shared the club's statement:

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The communication sent by FIFA has not answered the petition raised by FC Barcelona, instead it merely expresses that in their opinion the RFEF [Royal Spanish Football Federation] is unable to register the player mentioned, because the RFEF’s rules "could conflict" with FIFA’s rules governing these situations.

FC Barcelona has therefore reiterated to football’s international body the need for precision in their response—be that an affirmative or a negative—because it was never FC Barcelona’s intention to request a legal opinion. 

What FC Barcelona requested was authorisation or, if negative, an appropriate a denial. The latter would then allow the club to take the case to the CAS [Court of Arbitration for Sport] because the registration of players ban has already been completed in its entirety by the club.

The RFEF’s rules suggest, therefore, that a player can be registered. 

"

The club will now presumably have to wait for yet another, more concrete response from FIFA.

Rafinha's injury leaves Barca worryingly thin, with star forward Lionel Messi also set to miss seven to eight weeks, according to the club (via ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan).

Despite knowing—barring their exceptional request to FIFA which may or may not ease their situation—that they wouldn't be able to register their new arrivals until January, the Blaugrana allowed nine players, including the likes of Pedro, Adama Traore and Alen Halilovic to depart the Camp Nou in the summer.

Had they held onto even one or two of those, their situation would look far better.

It could be argued that the point of their transfer ban—for violating FIFA's rules on signing young players—as a reprimand is to punish the club in situations like this, and Barca are now suffering for their questionable planning in the transfer window.

Therefore, their request to register the Turk could be denied. Either way, the Catalan giants need to find out soon, so they're better able to plan for the coming months.

One player Barca could be turning to in January is Celta Vigo forward Nolito.

Lalo R. Villar/Associated Press

According to Sport, Catalunya Radio are reporting that Nolito "will leave" the club in January, with Barca representing a likely destination due to the player's interest in joining and the Blaugrana's eagerness to recruit more forward options.

Sport also noted his prior working relationship with manager Luis Enrique.

The 28-year-old was in outstanding form as he bagged 13 goals and 14 assists in all competitions last season. As Opta Jose demonstrates, Nolito showed incredible creativity worthy of a place in Barcelona's squad:

Here are some of the forward's many highlights:

Nolito has started this season in the same vein as his last, netting five times and assisting three. According to Squawka, the Spaniard has already created 17 chances in this campaign—more than any other player in La Liga.

Football journalist Rik Sharma has little confidence in Barca's remaining youth prospects stepping up to replace those who have left and believes Nolito to be a likely acquisition for the club:

Football journalist Dermot Corrigan believes Nolito would be a useful back-up to Barca's first-choice front men, though it also highlights the player's advancing age:

Indeed, he will be 29 in October, but he would still make a good short-term acquisition for the Blaugrana and a replacement for Pedro capable of replicating his creativity and incisive contribution in the final third.

Barca could still get a good two or three seasons from Nolito, and the Spaniard is already familiar with the club and its ethos having made over 100 appearances for Barcelona B, so if he does leave Celta Vigo in January, expect him to head to the Camp Nou.