Club president confirms interest in Barcelona forward

Osasuna president Luis Sabalza has confirmed that the club are keen to re-sign Ez Abde from Barcelona this summer.

The 21-year-old enjoyed a successful loan spell at the La Liga club last season, making 34 appearances in all competitions and scoring six goals. Abde played a pivotal role in Osasuna's surprise run to the Copa del Rey final, scoring a vital goal in a quarter-final win over Sevilla and starting on the left flank in the final - a game the club would go on to lose 2-1 to Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Since returning from his loan spell the Moroccan has featured in both of Barcelona's La Liga games this season, playing 45 minutes of the draw with Getafe and 22 minutes of the win over Cadiz.

Despite Abde's active role in the Barca first team, Osasuna have remained keen on re-signing the wide player throughout the summer transfer window, something which has now been confirmed by president Sabalza.

"I would like Abde to come back," he told Noticias de Navarra. "If they want to sell him it will be difficult, but if they loan him out, we would have a possibility."

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Unfortunately for Osasuna, Barcelona president Joan Laporta confirmed earlier this summer that they are planning to keep Abde at the request of manager Xavi.

"The idea is for him to be in the first team," Laporta told L'Esportiu. "Xavi has told us that he wants him and I am very happy. First for him, because he is a cheeky player and when he was with us he did very well. The loan in Osasuna has gone very well for him in his training, he is young.

"Second, because it connects us with Morocco. Barca is a global club and it is good for us to have a Moroccan player. He is a talented player, who did very well in the Under-23 African Cup of Nations, being the captain.

"I am very happy to have him in the first team."

Barcelona have already let one wide player leave this summer in Ousmane Dembele, with the France international moving to Paris Saint-Germain on a five-year deal after refusing to enter negotiations over a new contract at Camp Nou.

90min understands that Barca are close to finalising a move to sign wing-back Joao Cancelo. A loan deal is on the cards, with Barcelona covering the majority of Cancelo's wages over the course of the season, and they have also agreed an option worth £30m to make the move permanent next summer.

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