No January Move

Schalke 04 will not sell Rafinha in the winter transfer window, but they could be persuaded to part with the Brazilian defender once their Champions League qualification is assured, according to the player's agent. Juventus are believed to be leading the race to sign Rafinha as they look to replace Zdenek Grygera, who was reportedly in talks over a move to Fenerbahce last summer. "I don't think it's possible for Rafinha to leave in January," Naor Malaquias explained to Tuttojuve.com. "It depends on the club. It's a decision that rests with Schalke - if they decide to sell the player, he could arrive in Italy. "But I'm sure that they want to keep Rafinha until the end of the season in order to gain Champions League qualification." While the move may not be imminent, the agent was confident that his client would not be short of offers at the end of the campaign. "By next summer there will be more possibilities. I'm sure that he would do well in any team - I'm truly convinced of that," said Malaquias. "He has adapted well to European football now. The price? At the moment, it's between €10-12m."