Barcelona boss Luis Enrique is happy to wait until the end of the season to discuss the future of right-backDani Alves, despite it increasing the possibility of the player walking away for free in June.
The defender has less than six months left on his current deal and even though Barca have been hit with a transfer ban which prevents them from signing players in 2015, the club have yet to offer the Brazilian a new contract.
That perceived lack of interest in extending Alves' seven-year stay at Camp Nou prompted his agent Dinorah Santana to reveal last week she would begin looking for a new club for her client.
Luis Enrique remained non-committal over the prospect of the 31-year-old remaining in Catalonia but said he plans on sitting down with the player at the end of the season.
"I do not speak of these situations," he said at Tuesday's press conference. "This benefits both parties. Everyone should be calm and talk at the end of the season, not now."
Barcelona face Villarreal at Camp Nou in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday on the back of a positive weekend for the club in La Liga.
Real Madrid's shock 4-0 defeat at the hands of Atletico, allied with the Blaugrana's 5-2 victory over Athletic Bilbao, saw them cut the gap between themselves and leaders Madrid to just a single point.
Equally uplifting was the sight of Luis Suarez finding the back of the net at San Mames, which brought to an end a five-game goal drought.
"I don't know if the goal has boosted his confidence," Luis Enrique added. "We created many chances and we are happy with his performance. It's all very positive for his first year at the club."
Barca have won their last nine games in all competitions, and Luis Enrique is pleased with the improvement.
“We have seen different versions of the team as the season has progressed, but what a manager is always hoping is for his team to get better and better,” he said.
“When the results are positive, then the team’s confidence and morale are always going to be higher as well. I like the way the players react when they go behind in a match. They have the resources and they go into each challenge as if was their last. It’s always easier to win games when you have such top quality players as these in your squad. They know they can beat anyone.
