Maxwell nears Barca exit

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has revealed that left-back Maxwell is on the verge of joining Paris Saint-Germain.

The Brazilian defender has featured only 12 times for the Catalans this season and has made it clear that he wants to link up with the Ligue 1 leaders during the current transfer window.

“Maxwell informed us that he has an interesting offer from PSG and that he wants to accept it,” Guardiola told reporters on Wednesday. “I won’t keep players from leaving if they want to.”

“His transfer isn’t settled yet, but we are in advanced talks. If he leaves, we can only thank him.”

Maxwell’s compatriot, Adriano, has also been linked with a move away from Camp Nou before the end of the month but Guardiola insisted that he would like to retain the services of the former Sevilla man.

“I’d like Adriano to stay (because) when he is in good condition, he is a key player.”

Guardiola was speaking on the eve of the second leg of his side’s Copa del Rey last-16 clash with Osasuna on Thursday.

Barcelona are protecting a 4-0 advantage from the team’s first-leg encounter at Camp Nou last week.