Rafinha extends Barcelona contract to 2020 as midfielder receives boost on long road to recovery from knee ligament damage

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Barcelona have reached an agreement with Brazil midfielder Rafinha Alcantara to extend his contract until the end of the 2019-20 season.

Rafinha's current deal was set to expire at the end of this campaign, but Luis Enrique is believed to have made a move to secure his services for another four years.

The Brazilian, who made 36 appearances for the Catalans last term, is currently recovering from surgery to repair knee ligaments that he tore in a Champions League game at Roma in September.

Barcelona have reached an agreement with Brazil midfielder Rafinha to extend his contract until 2020

Enrique said at the time that he felt the injury was 'very ugly', with Rafinha leaving the game on a stretcher following a heavy challenge from Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan just two minutes after entering as a substitute midway through the second half.

The 22-year-old was ruled out for at least six months, but after reassuring supporters that his recovery is going well with a video of him swimming uploaded onto his Intagram account at the weekend, Rafinha can now look forward to many more years at the Nou Camp once he is fully fit.

The European champions say the player's buyout clause will be €75 million (around £54 million), making a move to prise the playmaker away from the La Liga giants unlikely unless this were to be lowered in the same way it was for Pedro last summer.

Rafinha is currently recovering from surgery to repair knee ligaments that he tore against Roma in September

Rafinha was ruled out for at least six months but he has received better news with the signing of a new deal