Thiago Motta said yesterday: "He is a young player who is demonstrating that he has great potential. He works well and he has an enormous future. He can become an important player for this club."

Barca defender Lilian Thuram added: "Giovani dos Santos is a very good young person and I hope for him that he becomes a great player. He has much to learn and he has a positive attitude. I believe that that is the best thing in his favour."

Meanwhile, it's emerged that Dos Santos will gain his Spanish passport on August 28.