Barcelona Transfer News: Malcom Reportedly Unwanted at Club After Roma Snub

Barcelona summer signing Malcom is reportedly an outcast at the Catalan club just two months after rejecting a transfer to AS Roma at the last minute to join the Blaugrana instead.

RAC1 (h/t ESPN FC) reported Barca manager Ernesto Valverde never wanted his side to move for the former Girondins de Bordeaux winger, who spurned a move to Roma and joined La Liga's champions for €41 million (£36.5 million).

Malcom missed out on a place in the squad that drew 1-1 at home to Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, with Ousmane Dembele preferred on the right flank. RAC1 suggested Valverde "does not know where to play and when to play him."

The 21-year-old scored 12 goals and contributed eight assists for Bordeaux last season and was on the cusp of joining the Giallorossi before Barca swooped in. 

Per Sport, the player's mother had even flown to the Italian capital to watch her son sign for his new club but learned of his decision to renege on his agreement en route.

Roma director of football Monchi was vocal in his disapproval with the saga:

Malcom has been fit for the entire campaign aside from a ligament injury in mid-September, but he's played only 25 minutes of the season so far and doesn't seem to fit the plans of his coach.

Valverde has encountered some criticism for his management of this past summer's signings, with some debating whether midfielders Arthur Melo and Arturo Vidal have been properly utilised in the early schedule.

Commentator Ray Hudson recently praised Malcom and urged he wants to see more of his talents:

The former Corinthians star has been an unused substitute twice this term, and his most recent outing was a 20-minute cameo in the 2-1 defeat at Leganes.

However, sportswriter Andy West recently argued Dembele, who has endured his share of injury and attitude troubles in his year at the Camp Nou, didn't coat himself in glory against Athletic:

Valverde might yet find a place for Malcom to challenge Dembele for a spot on the right, though his outsider status could see talk turn to a potential exit after only a few months under Valverde's charge.