Denis Suarez rules out Barcelona January exit following fresh Napoli links

Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez has ruled out the possibility of leaving the Nou Camp during the upcoming January transfer window following renewed speculation linking him with Napoli.

The 23-year-old midfielder was linked with both the Serie A side and Tottenham Hotspur during the last days of the summer transfer window.

Suarez then decided to stay at Barcelona with the hope of proving to Ernesto Valverde that he deserved a place in his plans after the former Athletic Bilbao boss took over from Luis Enrique.

However, the former Manchester City academy starlet has only started two La Liga games in the opening part of the season.

Earlier this week Italian publication Il Corriere Dello Sport reported that Napoli were ready to make a new attempt to lure him to the Serie A ahead of the second part of the season.

But asked about those reports during an interview with Mundo Deportivo, the Spaniard said: "I do not want to leave. I've said it for a long time. My teammates encouraged me to continue in the summer and I do not plan to leave [in January]. I want to succeed at Barça. I have the feeling that whatever I do I am in the market. I have rejected proposals so the rumours do not come from me, I have not heard any offers."

It has been said that Barcelona would be keen on letting him go for the right price in order to fund other additions. The Catalans are expected to revive the pursuit to sign Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool once the transfer window reopens in January.

And pressed whether he has felt under pressure to accept some of the offers received to leave the Nou Camp, Suarez added: "I said [in the summer] that I was not going to move, I was very clear before the season started, but every time the transfer market approaches, it seems that I am put me on the market, when I never said that I want to go. I am willing to succeed here because I consider myself at home and I think my style fits well in this club."

In the summer it was said that Lionel Messi personally advised Suarez to be patient and remain at Barcelona.

Meanwhile, earlier this week Sergio Busquets sent an encouraging message to the Spanish midfielder after declaring that Suarez is the player most similar to Andres Iniesta in Valverde's current squad.

Nevertheless, Suarez has been tipped to become the long-term replacement for the 33-year-old captain since Barcelona brought him back from Villarreal during the summer of 2016 by activating a buy-back option.

Suarez welcomed the comparisons with Iniesta and hopes he will have the chance to prove Busquets right in the second part of the season.

"Those words helps a lot and more coming from Busquets, who is a player who has been here all his life, who has won everything with Barça and with the national team. He is a reference and being him the one who said that means a lot, because he really believes in my game and my possibilities. I am very grateful for those words," Suarez added.