Barcelona transfer news: Villarreal say Catalans must wait until summer to re-sign Denis Suarez

Villarreal president Fernando Roig has ruled out the departure of Denis Suarez to Barcelona in the current transfer window. The club chief admitted that the Catalans can re-sign the Spaniard in the summer due to a clause in his contract, but said a move now is not feasible as he is a crucial squad member for manager Marcelino Garcia Toral.

Barcelona signed the 22-year-old in the summer of 2013 from Manchester City's academy. The versatile winger enjoyed an impressive debut campaign with Barca's second team before the club agree a two-season loan deal with Sevilla so the player could continue his development at the Sanchez Pizjuan. However, last summer Villarreal opted to get the player's services by paying an undisclosed fee, but with the Catalans maintaining an option to buy him back for just €3m (£2.29m, $3.27m).

Luis Enrique admitted in a press conference in December that Barcelona may accelerate his return to the club during the January transfer window, after Suarez impressed in the opening run of the season at Villarreal. Reports claimed that despite the manager's priority being the signing of Nolito, he has been forced to turn his attention to Suarez due to Celta Vigo's high demands for the Spain international.

Spanish media reported that Luis Enrique telephoned Suarez to convince him to return to Barcelona, offering him a spot as the key back-up to the 'MSN' trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar. But the deal did not go through after it emerged that the club's option to re-sign him is just for the end of the current season, meaning that they would need to agree terms with Villarreal over his re-signing now, with reports suggesting his valuation could go way above €9m.

The Villarreal president has now confirmed the news, ruling out Suarez's move to Barcelona before the end of the current transfer window but accepting that the club will be unable to hold onto him in the summer.

"The player belongs to us with just one condition, that Barcelona can sign him back at the end of the season," Roig said, as quoted by AS.

"We took over the agreement between Barcelona and Sevilla. We assumed that agreement but it does not mean the player can return to Barcelona in mid-season.

"He is a very important player for us and there is definitely no agreement for [the player to re-join them in the] middle of the season. At the end of the season, Barcelona will make a decision, as they have the possibility to get him back."

Reports in Spain had suggested the only hope of Villarreal changing their mind was if the club got the services of Real Madrid winger Denis Cheryshev to replace Suarez. Roig confirmed they have tried to get the Russian to return to the club after he impressed on loan last season, but Los Blancos rejected their proposal.

"We have tried to get Cheryshev back but there was no way to get an agreement," Roig revealed.

"He was an important player for us last year, he enjoyed it here and we increased his valuation. He had a season of too many injuries at Sevilla and played very well for Villarreal. It worked really well for us and also for the player. We have made every effort for him to come back but it is very difficult."