Liverpool defender Rafa Paez expects to miss rest of season after Fifa block Eibar loan

Luis Carlos Fernandez, the agent of Liverpool defender Rafa Paez, has told IBTimes UK the 20-year-old centre-back is expected to miss the rest of the season after Fifa blocked his loan move to La Liga side Eibar.

Following a spell in the Real Madrid academy, the Spanish defender moved to Liverpool in the summer of 2013 after impressing the Anfield coaches during a trial.

Reds manager Brendan Rodgers opted to send him on loan to Bologna in summer 2014 to continue his development. But after struggling to secure regular playing time at the Italian side during the first part of the season, the club recalled him during the January transfer window and sent him to Eibar until the end of the season.

However, Fifa blocked the deal due to an administration error made by Eibar during the process. The La Liga side made an appeal in February to amend the situation and assured they presented all the documentation on time.

But Fifa refused to accept the appeal and Fernandez has confirmed the player expects to miss the remaining part of the season, although all parties involved are working to find a solution.

"As far as we know the player is unable to play until the end of the season but we have a meeting with Liverpool officials to see if we can find another solution," Fernandez told IBTimes UK.

Paez has been training with the Basque side since January and, according to his agent, it is his idea is to stay there unless they can find another solution.

Fernandez said: "As of today, the player plans to stay at Eibar just training until the end of the campaign but let's see what Liverpool say because they are the owners of their rights. In Spain he cannot play this season either at Eibar or in another club because it is impossible to register him out of the two transfer windows – summer and January – but maybe the FA regulation allow to do something. Let's see."

Meanwhile, Eibar have made an official announcement confirming the news while assuring that even though they have followed the procedures necessaries to solve the initial problem, Fifa has communicated to the Spanish club that the transfer remained denied.

The club said: "Once all the documents analysed, the judge has confirmed the denial of transfer although all parties agreed that it was a simple administrative mistake that was corrected immediately and that the documentation was sent on time."