Midfielder Rahinha signs new contract with Barcelona

Catalan football giants FC Barcelona confirmed on Monday that they have extended the contract of midfielder Rafinha Alcantara until the end of June 2020.

The new three-year deal assures the future of 22-year-old whose previous deal was due to expire at the end of June 2016 and a boost for the player who will be out of action for the rest of the current season after breaking his cruciate knee ligament in his side's European Champions League game against As Roma, reports Xinhua.

This was shaping up to be an important season for Rafinha, who was starting to win a regular starting place in the side coached by Luis Enrique.

The Brazilian international had previously worked with the Barcelona coach during a season on loan at Celta Vigo, which saw him gain important La Liga experience.

As well as extending his stay at the Camp Nou stadium, Barcelona have also increased Rafinha's buyout clause to 75 million euos (around $83 million).

Meanwhile, the Barcelona footballers have apologised for a Halloween prank which saw them accidentally interrupt a press conference being given by Getafe winger Victor Rodriguez in the wake of their 2-0 win on Saturday night.

Several players entered the press center wearing Halloween disguises as Victor was speaking to journalists, a gesture some have tried to describe as a lack of respect to a beaten rival.