Barcelona ex-president Josep Maria Bartomeu has encouraged the supervising board to close the signing of Arda Turan, who is "the player that the technical staff want, who Luis Enrique wants."

EFE

In statements made to Esport3, Bartomeu has drifted from the pre-election script and spoken about a possible signing. "I invite the board to sign this player," he insisted.

After the signing of Aleix Vidal, Bartomeu let out that he had negotiated for the possibility of bringing in a central midfielder who was requested by Barça's coach, but until this Friday he hasn't admitted that the chosen one is Arda Turan.

The Turkish midfielder, 28, has a minimum fee release clause of 41 million euros. In addition to the huge cost of the deal, the other difficulty is that Barça cannot register players until the 1st of January 2016, due to FIFA's ban with relation to La Masia.

"The player is very good, he has quality and goes perfectly with what Luis Enrique wants for the coming campaign, and for me, as a pre-candidate, I encourage the supervising board to take a step forward, to sign this player and in the coming campaign we will have a team that will continue to be competitive and able to win all of the trophies available."

Bartomeu has moved to remind people of the fact that football is decided by the technical staff, with the executives and directors there to listen to them. "When they are all in agreement, and above all Luis Enrique likes the chosen player, the supervisory board have to try and bring him in in the best way possible, but always within the economic parameters of the club," he insisted.

"We can do it and sign him because it is what Luis Enrique wants and, due to this, we will have a competitive squad with which to try and win six titles."

In the electoral period, the club is overseen by a supervisory board. They are in charge of the election process and the day to day management of the club. Barça's elections will be held on the 18th of July and next week all of the candidates will be known.