Demetrio Albertini hopes former Barcelona teammate Carles Puyol will return to the club.

Puyol announced last week that he had turned down the sporting director's job at Barca.

But Albertini told Mundo Deportivo: "I don't know where or when, but for Puyi I hope he is learning to be a good leader for Barça. He is a reference of Barcelona. The day he returns to Barça we will be by his side to celebrate it."

The former Italy midfielder also commented on Frenkie de Jong's arrival.

"The quality change of my time is now clear. We had a position marked and today the midfielders are versatile. De Jong has a lot of quality and I am sure he will succeed at Barça."