It has been claimed Barcelona summer signing Malcom could seek a move away from the Camp Nou in January and ‘doesn’t understand’ why he’s not been playing for Ernesto Valverde’s side.
The young Brazilian, 21, only joined the club in the summer from Bordeaux – signing at the 11th hour after he looked certain to be heading to Italian giants Roma.
However, he has had a tough start to life in Catalonia, with regular game-time hard to come by, and it is believed he has asked to leave if he doesn’t feature in his boss’ plans.
Mundo Deportivo claim Malcom doesn’t know why he’s not been playing for Valverde. A loan switch in January is mooted by Mundo, with Inter Milan, Arsenal and Tottenham having enquired about Malcom in recent weeks.
Gunners boss Unai Emery is said to be keen to land Malcom in January with the player ready to push for a move away, but a permanent exit is being ruled out.
Malcom is well down the pecking order at Barcelona.
Barca have little interest in letting him go, and hope he remains patient and waits for his big chance to nail down a starting spot.
He is well down the pecking order though, with Lionel Messi, Ousmane Dembele and Luis Suarez the first-choice attacking trio for Valverde.
Speaking in the summer after his £35.5m switch went through, Malcom said: “I always wanted to go to Barcelona.
“It was an opportunity to play for Barcelona and here I will play with the best players in the world. I am very happy to be able to be at a team like this.
“It’s very difficult to come to Barcelona, but I am going to give all I have to do a good job. I am very happy in my heart, I am realising a dream that I have had since childhood.”
Malcom has made just two appearances so far this season, but is expected to play tonight against Cultural Leonesa in the Copa del Rey.