Barcelona midfielder’s representatives slam Italian media over ‘fake’ transfer rumours

Ambition Group Sport Management, a firm that represents Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie, has lashed out at Italian media for falsely claiming that the 26-year-old is plotting a move to Inter in the summer.

Kessie moved to Barcelona the previous summer, joining the Blaugrana on a free transfer from Milan. The 26-year-old, however, has struggled for first-team football as he finds himself way down the pecking order.

In all fairness, the Ivory Coast international is Xavi’s fifth-choice midfielder after Pedri, Gavi, Sergio Busquets and Frenkie de Jong. Given the situation at hand, rumours of a potential exit have been circulating in the media since before the January transfer window.

As reported before, Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport came up with a story that Kessie is in touch with his former AC Milan teammate Hakan Calhanoglu in order to move to Inter Milan in the summer.

The reports have since been rebuffed by Ambition Group Sport Management, who took to social (h/t Mundo Deportivo) to say, “The transfer market is over, but we are still hearing ‘fake news’!!!”

“How much misinformation!?! Ladies and gentlemen, this is colossal false news! Do not take this article seriously at all!”

Interestingly enough, despite the constant refusal from Kessie’s camp, Inter Milan continue to be tipped to launch an offer for Kessie in the summer.

For what it’s worth, Kessie may have struggled for minutes this season, but every time he has stepped on the field, his quality has stood out. Take the recent 1-0 win over Villarreal for instance, it was his forcefulness alongside Frenkie de Jong that allowed Barcelona to win the midfield battle. And that, in fact, was the key to their success.

Kessie is starting to gain prominence in Xavi’s setup but given the club’s FFP issues, a sale cannot be ruled out.