Denis Suárez: “Barça is the best team I could play for”

Denis Suárez is officially an FC Barcelona player, and was able to explain just what that means to him at his official presentation to the media on Wednesday at the Camp Nou. “I’m very pleased to be back at the club” he said. “It’s a dream come true because when I left my target was always to come back here and that’s what I’ve fought for. Because of my style of football, Barça is the best team in the world that I could play for.

He is especially looking forward to the chance to share a dressing room with one of his biggest idols, Andrés Iniesta. “He is a role model for everyone in football and I’m so happy to be able to learn things from playing alongside him” he told the packed pressroom.

Since his departure, Suárez has had spells at Sevilla and Villarreal. “I grew as a footballer during those experiences” he says. “At Sevilla my fitness and tactical awareness improved and I really enjoyed my time at Villarreal because they play a similar kind of football to FC Barcelona.”

He explained that he has been in constant touch with the directors and coaches at Barça, who have always been very supportive of his progress. “Barça people have always been monitoring me” he says. “And that also helped me to develop because I always wanted to play for this club and to show that I was able to do that.”

The new FCB midfielder went on to add that “I’ll do all I can to be a success at Barça, this is what I have always dreamt of. I want to do everything I can here, but I am aware that this is where the best players in the world are playing. I’ll fight as hard as I can for a regular place in the team.”

The director of professional sport, Albert Soler, and the first team technical secretary, Robert Fernández, joined Suárez at the press conference.

Albert Soler

“Apart from the cost of buying the player back from Villarreal we are also paying 800,000 euros to Manchester City as agreed when he signed for Barça B. It’s a fee we agreed to pay should he ever become a first team player.

“The total operation, counting the million euros paid to sign him for Barça B, the 3,250,000 euros to buy him back and the 800,000 euros for Manchester City amount to five million”.

“There is also a bonus whereby for every ten games he plays, Manchester City will receive 800,000 euros up to a maximum of 8 million. We believe that a player that will play 100 games for a total cost of some 13 million euros is a very good deal for the club”.

Robert Fernández

“He is a player who has shown at Sevilla and Villarreal that he is fit to play for us. We are convinced he’ll help to balance our midfield. We highly appreciate the fact that he has been given so much playing time at Villarreal”.

“He can play in midfield, but in attack too. We expect big things from him. He’s excited to be here and is a top quality player.”

“He knows this club thanks to his time in the reserves. That will help him to adapt quickly to our playing style and training methods. Luis Enrique knows him perfectly well”.