BARCELONA, Spain (AP) Barcelona player Arda Turan does not think FIFA will grant the club permission to register him early, thus enabling him to replace the injured midfielder Rafinha, his agent says.
Barcelona is banned from fielding new players until January and Ahmed Bulut says neither he nor Turan were optimistic about an early go-ahead from FIFA for the Turkey midfielder.
Rafinha has been sidelined for six months after undergoing surgery on torn right knee ligaments.
Bulut said Turan, who joined Barcelona from Atletico Madrid in July, was ready to play before January, but he ''is aware that it is not easy to get permission from FIFA.''
Bulut said Turan is ''physically and mentally prepared to compete,'' but ''we are realistic.''
Calls to Barcelona and FIFA were not immediately answered Wednesday.
