Journalist Jose Alvarez claims that Sergio Busquets, the captain of Barcelona, has requested to leave the team during the January transfer window.
Busquets is entering the final year of his deal with Barça, and recent media coverage has focused extensively on his future.
It had already been previously reported that Busquets wanted to leave Barcelona in the winter.
Recently, it was asserted that the seasoned superstar had gotten agitated by the criticism directed at him during the team's difficult time. Therefore, even though such conversations had ceased, he had requested the club's permission to leave in January.
The most probable move has been a free transfer to MLS team Inter Miami, but recent rumours indicated that an extension with the Catalans was not off the table.
However, the 34-year-old midfielder has requested to quit the club as soon as January, according to the most recent information from Jose Alvarez.
Busquets is a key player and is in the plans of manager Xavi Hernandez, who wants him to sign a contract extension and commit to the team beyond the current campaign.
Those ambitions, it appears, may not come to pass given that Busquets appears to have sought the Catalans for permission to leave during the approaching winter window.
According to Jose Alvarez's report, the Spanish international has informed the team that he intends to sign with Inter Miami immediately.
Barcelona might be open to approving the departure of their captain in the middle of the campaign if it would help them resolve their Fair Play difficulties. Another important question would be if they could find a suitable replacement for Busquets.
Considerable their position right now financially, the only feasible option would be World Cup quarter finalist, Frenkie de Jong, who would be more than happy to slip right into that well converted CDM role at Barcelona.