Jordi Alba has reportedly urged the Barcelona board to keep him at the club until the completion of his contract.
The 33-year-old has lost his regular starting spot at Camp Nou during the 2022-23 campaign due to the growth of Alejandro Balde and arrival of Marcos Alonso.
Alba has made 12 appearances for the Catalan giants this season, including 10 in La Liga.
According to reports, Barcelona plans to sell Alba either in January or next summer in order to cut his hefty wages.
However, according to Relevo, Alba will now play out his contract with the club, which is set to expire in June 2024.
According to the report, the seasoned defender’s reaction to being dropped pleased the club’s coaching staff, and he has assisted Balde’s transition into a regular first-team member.
Alba is also believed to be one of the ‘best-liked players in the dressing room,’ which has convinced Barcelona’s top brass that he should stay for the next 18 months before departing on a free transfer.
He was an important player for Spain in the 2022 World Cup, providing three assists in four matches, though his team did not advance past the round of 16.
The defender has played 441 times for Barcelona in all competitions, scoring 25 goals and assisting on 95 occasions.
Meanwhile, he has won several trophies, including five La Liga titles, five Copa del Rey titles, and the Champions League.
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Alba has started four of Barcelona’s last five La Liga games, including three straight against Valencia, Almeria, and Osasuna before the World Cup.
Inter Milan were extensively connected with the Spain international throughout the summer, and there were reports that Barcelona were actively seeking to trade him to the Italian giants.
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