Thiago Alcantara 'cropped out of official Barcelona photo'

Barcelona star Thiago Alcantara's future has been thrown into doubt due to the midfielder's absence from an official club photo.

The Spain Under-21 captain has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United, with reports claiming that a deal could be struck by Friday this week.

Barca have fuelled rumours by posting a photo of the players in the club's new kit on Instagram without Thiago, who was in the original picture published on the Catalans' official website, according to talkSPORT.

There have been suggestions that Thiago's absence is purely down to technical restrictions on Instagram.