Josep Maria Bartomeu explains to the Daily Mail why players are attracted to FC Barcelona

Josep Maria Bartomeu explains to the Daily Mail why players are attracted to FC Barcelona

The FC Barcelona president sits down with the British newspaper ahead of Tuesday's clash with Arsenal

[[DES_1]]In an interview to the British newspaper The Daily Mail on Sunday, FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu explained, among other things, the reasons why big players like Neymar Jr and Luis Suárez want to come FC Barcelona. "Even with better deals out there they decided to come to Barça; our club attracts players because it is "more than a club," he said, referring to the Club's well-known motto.

But what exactly does it mean? "We are not just a football club,  we do many things," he said. "We want to help the children of the world through UNICEF, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the International Olympic Committee, in order to carry out projects for children."

Bartomeu says he isn't concerned about possible offers involving Barcelona players. "We are calm because our players are very happy at our club and in our city. They enjoy the sport, their profession, they are part of a group and they are not terribly moved by money." As for Messi, Bartomeu said that "he himself said Barça would be the only club he'd play for."Never in Club history, nor perhaps in the history of football, have three players as good as Messi, Neymar and Suárez played together.

In his analysis of the team, Bartomeu highlights team spirit as one of the keys to its success. "Sometimes there are two or three different groups in a locker room. On this team there is only one. They are all happy for both individual and collective success." He also praised the quality of the staff and, especially, the trident: "Never in Club history, nor perhaps in the history of football, have three players of this quality played together."

About Suárez, who still garners a lot of attention among the British media and fans after his stint at Liverpool, Bartomeu said, "He's a star, the world's best at his position. He accepts his role and plays for the team and staff before himself."If you look at our coaching history, they're the ones who won.

Bartomeu also talked about how the Club's football model influenced the general model, beginning with Johan Cruyff. "Cruyff led the way; Louis Van Gaal gave confidence to young players like Valdés, Iniesta and Puyol, while Rijkaard led Barça to the Champions League title in Paris...If you look at our coaching history, they're the ones who won. Pep and Tito won a lot too, they were a fantastic team. Barça will always be grateful. Now it's Luis Enrique who's winning."

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