It seems the coaching staff at Barca are curently debating whether or not to offer a renewed contract to reserve goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto, 34, or whether to look elsewhere for an understudy to Victor Valdes.

Catalan sports paper Sport report that the reserve keeper, whose contract expires in June, has so far been given no indication by the technical staff at the club about where he can expect to be playing his football next season, although technical secretary Txiki Bergistarian has told Pinto that a decision will be made sometime in March. Whether the decision is in the affirmative or the negative is still yet to be seen, but with many of the first-team squad already having their contracts renewed so far this season (ten in total, eleven including Jeffren), it does seem Pinto may be looking for a new club come June.

Despite spending much of his time at Barca deputising for Victor Valdes, Pinto did play a crucial part in the club winning the Copa Del Rey last season where he played in every game, making some important saves as the club went on to lift the trophy. Although he has been more marginalised this season, with the club being knocked out of the Copa Del Rey by Sevilla, it seems the reserve keeper, who turns 35 in November, is a popular figure amongst the squad seemingly acting as an entertainer and friend for many of the group. As such, it seems Pep may be in two minds about losing such a positive influence from the team.