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Montoya set to leave Barcelona in January

Martin Montoya has decided his future lies elsewhere from Barcelona, says his agent © Getty Images

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Barcelona right-back Martin Montoya is set to leave the Nou Camp in January after being linked with Arsenal and Liverpool.

Montoya was reportedly upset after being left out of the squad for Barcelona's 3-1 Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, even with first choice Dani Alves suspended.

After meeting with Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta for showdown talks on Thursday, Montoya's agent said the defender had decided his future lay elsewhere and wanted to leave in the coming transfer window.

"From now, clubs interested have the possibility to make contact with Barcelona, and negotiate his transfer," Juan de Dios Carrasco said.

Montoya, 23, who graduated from Barcelona's famous La Masia academy, has for years been seen as the long-term replacement for Alves in the first team, and signed a new contract last season which runs until June 2018.

However, he has made just one appearance in all competitions this season, with coach Luis Enrique preferring to use summer signing Douglas, utility-man Adriano Correa and even centre-half Marc Bartra at right back when Alves has been unavailable.

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu said: "He [Montoya] is a player who has already shown that when he plays he always performs to the maximum. But the coach decides if he plays or not."

Bartomeu also defended signing Thomas Vermaelen from Arsenal for €15 million (£8.7m) last summer, even though the centre-back arrived injured and will not play until next spring at the earliest.

"All signings are made by the technical team, and Vermaelen was a collective decision," he said. "He has undeniable quality. He will play again at the end of the season, and he will bring a lot in the following years. He is a great player and will help the defence a lot."

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