Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has confirmed Sergi Samper is set to leave.

Samper will be allowed to leave after the arrival of Guangzhou Evergrande midfielder Paulinho.

"I spoke with him three or four days ago to explain to him that he's still developing and to experience competition somewhere else, because he'd get very few minutes here," said Valverde.

"I told him to keep progressing and that he could be important in the future."