Barcelona summer buy Arda Turan isn’t looking for a temporary move away from the club as he waits to become eligible for the Spanish champions.

Turan was signed from Atletico Madrid in a €34million deal last month but is unable to make his debut until January as a result of Barca’s transfer ban.

There had been speculation the Catalan giants could seek to send Turan out on loan during the opening few months of the season but Turan says he will remain with Barcelona.

Former club Galatsaray, where Turan began his career, had been heavily linked but the Turkish forward insists a switch to Istanbul was never an option.

“Galatasaray didn’t try to take me on loan,” Turan told reporters in Turkey.

“To do that, they would have spent all of the money which they have reserved for the youth team and I don’t want Galatasaray to spend a lot of money on me.

“Besides, [boss] Luis Enrique wants me to continue in Barcelona and be close to the team.”

Turan admits he could find it hard not playing until January but he insists his focus is on adapting to his new surroundings to ensure he is fully prepared for when he is finally allowed to make his Barca bow.

“The days are flying past quickly in Barcelona. I thought that it might be difficult to go for six months without playing but I am trying to prepare myself for when I am finally able to play,” he added.

“My team-mates are helping me and make me feel a part of the club. The months running up to January will be very different, but I will try to adapt to my situation.

“I’ll feel a bit sad not being able to play until then but I have to look at the positive side and turn it to my advantage to prepare myself. I’ve dreamed about this since I was a kid.”

Barca open the new campaign at Athletic Bilbao and they have been installed as the 1.33 favourites to take all three points.

Barcelona are 1.67 to win the La Liga title outright ahead of Real Madrid at 2.50, with Turan’s former side Atleti available at 15.00.