Barcelona were reportedly prevented from bringing Villarreal midfielder Denis Suarez back to the Camp Nou on deadline day after Real Madrid president Florentino Perez made moves to block his transfer.
Catalan-based newspaper Sport claimed Suarez would have been permitted to rejoin his old club if Villarreal found a replacement. However, Perez stopped Real winger Denis Cheryshev from joining the Yellow Submarine in order to obstruct Suarez's exit.
Villarreal's offer for Cheryshev was said to be the best bid Los Blancos received, but they accepted a loan offer from Valencia instead, meaning Suarez will remain at El Madrigal until at least the end of this season.