Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde insists benching Ivan Rakitic for the 2-2 draw at Osasuna had nothing to do with the transfer market.

Rakitic was benched for the third game in a row as speculation grows about his future ahead of Monday's transfer deadline.

"You can say what you want," Valverde said about rumours of an exit for the Croatian.

"The other day we played a good match and we kept the same team.

"I have many players to choose from.

"I didn't [leave him out] because of the transfer market.

"When I'm at a match, I look at what I have on the bench."