Dominik Livaković, the Croatian goalkeeper who joined FC Barcelona last week from Turkish club Fenerbahçe, has yet to be officially registered with La Liga. This means he will not be eligible to play in the upcoming match against Rayo Vallecano later this week. Barcelona confirmed on its official website that Livaković completed his second training session with the team since joining, but his registration status remains unclear. The club has not announced whether he will be formally listed as part of the squad for the domestic league. Livaković arrived in Barcelona after two seasons with Fenerbahçe, during which he gained experience playing in European competitions and earned over 70 caps for Croatia. Barcelona presented him as a new reinforcement for their goalkeeping position, emphasizing his experience and international pedigree. However, despite being integrated into first-team training under coach Hansi Flick, his formal registration with La Liga has not been finalized. The uncertainty surrounding his status stems from the need for clubs to complete administrative procedures before players can participate in league matches. While Livaković has trained with the team and appears to be adapting well, his absence from the official La Liga squad list raises questions about his immediate availability. Barcelona's current goalkeepers, including first-choice Joan García, have remained unchallenged in the opening fixtures of the season, with García keeping clean sheets in wins against Elche and Athletic Bilbao. According to Flick, Livaković’s role within the team is still being determined. During a press conference ahead of the match against Rayo Vallecano, the German coach was asked directly about the Croatian goalkeeper’s future. Flick indicated that while Livaković is considered part of the club’s long-term plans, his immediate status might involve being loaned out until the end of the current contract of Wojciech Szczęsný, who is currently the backup keeper. Flick emphasized that Szczęsný is valued by the coaching staff and that Livaković understands the situation. Livaković’s previous career path includes a loan spell at Girona last season, where he did not make any appearances due to competition from Paulo Gazzaniga. He returned to Croatia to join Hajduk Split, where he regained form and played a key role in the national team’s successful World Cup campaign. After returning to Fenerbahçe, he became a target for Barcelona, leading to his recent move. With the transfer window approaching its deadline in Spain, there is speculation that Livaković could be sent on a loan deal to another club, potentially even back to Croatia. His potential loan would allow Barcelona to manage their squad depth while giving him more game time elsewhere. However, no official announcement has been made regarding such a move. Meanwhile, Barcelona continues to focus on strengthening other areas of the team following the departures of Ferran Torres and Robert Lewandowski. Coach Flick expressed confidence in the current squad and noted that sporting director Deco is working on potential additions. However, Flick declined to comment specifically on rumors involving Julian Álvarez of Atlético Madrid, suggesting that discussions remain ongoing. As the transfer window nears its close, the situation with Livaković remains unresolved. Whether he will feature in the coming weeks depends on the completion of his registration and any decisions regarding a possible loan. For now, he trains with the team but remains absent from the official La Liga roster.
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