Soccer-Barcelona winger Rafinha joins Celta Vigo on loan

Barcelona winger Rafinha Alcantara extended his contract by a year then joined Celta Vigo on loan on Monday, the Spanish champions said in a statement. The Brazilian's deal was set to expire at the end of the season so the Catalans renewed it to stop him leaving for free next year.

"The Galician club will pay the player's salary and up to 1.5 million euros ($1.67 million) in variables," said Barcelona. Rafinha, 26, has featured for Barca in each of their first three La Liga matches in the injury absence of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele.

The midfielder returns to Vigo where he played at youth level before joining Barcelona's La Masia academy.