Thomas Vermaelen is a frustrated figure at Barcelona, with the defender denied a transfer and now completely out of favour.

The 31-year-old had been hoping to secure a move away from Camp Nou over the summer, having seen Roma opt against taking up the option of a making a 2016-17 loan deal permanent.

Vermaelen was, however, prevented from leaving Catalunya, despite being so far down the pecking order at Barca that he is currently unable to get a game for their reserve side.

The former Arsenal centre-half told Belgian publication La Derniere Heure: “The club told me that I couldn’t leave.

“I had to stay in spite of the interest of several clubs, now I cannot even play with the second team, it is a difficult situation.”

“It is clear that in a club like Barcelona, three central defenders are not enough, they need four or five.

“A suspension or an injury will mean that I can return to the squad and these things can happen quickly.