Bartomeu says Barça will make two more signings

Josep Maria Bartomeu has said that Barcelona will make at least two more signings this summer, while Xavi Hernandez will make his own decision on his future.

Speaking to the press in Rio de Janiero, the Barça president recognised that, despite already making several moves in the transfer market, more new faces are necessary to bolster Luis Enrique's squad.

"At the very minimum we have replace [Carles] Puyol," he explained.

"He has left the playing staff and has accepted an offer to help [Andoni] Zubizarreta on the sporting side of things. They will sign on or two defenders.

"The amount of signings we will make it still up in the air, but two more will come in for sure."

Any more arriving may depend on Xavi who, in spite of having two years to run on his Camp Nou contract, is looking likely to leave the club this summer.

However, Bartomeu indicated his future is far from clear.

"We are waiting on the decision of Xavi," he continued. "He has the right to decide his future as he sees fit. 

"He has two more years on his contract, but if he prefers a change, we will be there to help him. But it is clear he has earned the right to choose what he does.

"After 16 or 17 years in the first team with so many titles, the player from our cantera with more titles than anyone, Xavi can decide what he wants."

Bartomeu also offered words on a variety of other subjects...

On Lionel Messi: "He is untransferable. He is our player and we are evolving with him as the leader of our new team. He is a cule and his half Catalan, half Argentine."

On Andres Iniesta: "He is a veteran player but he is also still young."

On the cantera: "If we can't find players inside the club, we will sign from outside. Decisions like Ivan Rakitic and Luis Suarez were taken because we couldn't find these players in Barcelona B. But we still have lots of talent that will arrive in the first team. Gerard Deulofeu and Rafiniha, who have been on loan, will not be in the squad. The philosophy has not changed."

On Luis Enrique: "He is really excited and can't wait for pre-season to start. We are going to see a Luis Enrique with eagerness and strength. We know him well, he did well with Barça B. He is a really ambitious person and a super hard worker.