Barcelona have opted to not complete the signing of Gaizka Mendieta who will now return to Lazio.
The Spaniard was loaned out to the Nou Camp outfit last summer but he hasn’t sufficiently impressed to remain in Catalonia.
That comes as a massive, if not unexpected, blow to the Italian side who were hoping to get Mendieta off their wage bill.
Reports coming out of the capital suggest that Mendieta is unlikely to stay in Rome though and the Biancocelesti are already trying to find a solution to the situation.
The international was signed by Lazio two years ago when they paid Valencia a massive £29m for his services. However, he failed to settle in Italy.
Meanwhile, another Barcelona player may be heading to Serie A in the form of Juan Roman Riquelme.
New Barca boss Frank Rijkaard doesn’t see the Argentine as part of his plans and a move is now likely for the South American.
The former Boca Juniors youngster has been linked with both Juventus and Udinese in the past year.
Even if reports in Spain suggest that he could join Valencia in a transfer that could see Pablo Aimar move in the other direction.
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