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On Tuesday evening, Mundo Deportivo reported Barcelona and Arsenal talks over the transfer of Denis Suarez had collpased.

Crucially they said it was related to the player extending his Barcelona contract ahead of any loan, with the terms on offer not good enough for the Spaniard.

Then on Wednesday morning it was announced Suarez wouldn’t be part of Barca’s squad for the Sevilla match. The Catalan media then reported it was because Ernesto Valverde had called up 19 players, believing Kevin-Prince Boateng may not be registered in time.

He was, so Suarez missed out. If one was looking for something dodgy, then it would be the wannabe Gunner being excluded whilst Riqui Puig and Oriol Busquets were drafted in.

But now Sport, the more excitable of the two Catalan sport newspapers, have the ‘real reason’.

They say it’s to put pressure on Denis to accept an offer other than Arsenal.

It’s been reported for weeks that the footballer only wants to join the Gunners and is keen to work under Unai Emery again.

In recent hours, other offers are said to have come in, which would result in Barcelona getting a full transfer, and he’s being pressured to accept one of these, hence being dropped, rather than cling to his Arsenal desire.