Barcelona confirm Rafinha return

Barcelona have confirmed that Brazilian midfielder Rafinha has returned to first-team training after missing almost nine months with a knee problem.

Rafinha found the back of the net seven times in 28 appearances last season, but he missed the tail end of the campaign with a knee injury, and has not yet featured this term.

The 24-year-old has now been given "medical clearance" to resume first-team training with the view to featuring for the Catalan giants in the early stages of 2018.

"Rafinha receives medical clearance," read a Barcelona statement. "After an arthroscopic procedure to fix the injury to his internal meniscus, the Brazilian midfielder has been working hard in order to be able to return to action."

Rafinha has been linked with a move away from Barcelona in recent months.