Barcelona will decide at the end of next month whether to keep promising youngster Carles Alena with their ‘B’ squad or promote him permanently to the first team, according to reports.

Alena, 20, has seen his development hampered by a serious thigh injury picked up at the end of 2017/18. He had to wait until November 11’s 4-3 home defeat to Real Betis to make his first La Liga appearance of the season, although he has experienced seven run-outs for the reserves in Segunda Division B.

SPORT have stated that talks are scheduled in December with agent Ivan De La Pena, a former Barca star, to discuss the way forward. At present, a loan move away has been excluded.

Alena has made four La Liga appearances since his April 2017 debut at Granada.