Barcelona sporting director Robert Fernandez vows to put the club before everything else and revealed his relationship with Luis Enrique.
Fernandez was appointed after Josep Maria Bartomeu was returned as President following the summer elections and revealed in an interview with Mundo Deportivo that he spoke to his predecessor, Andoni Zubizarreta, before his new job was announced.
“Andoni and I are good friends. We’ve known each other 16 years. When it was a possibility that I could join Barca I spoke to him.
“I didn’t want him to find out from the Press. He had a different remit. He was responsible for the first team, the B team and the youth system. My job is just the first team.
“The first contact was in January. They offered me a place on the technical committee but I said no. I spoke to the Coach the day of the Champions League final.
“I didn’t think about taking a place on the committee. I knew Ariedo Braida, from Milan, and Charly Rexach, who I have great respect for. But I didn’t consider the offer.
“The Coach and I will reach a consensus on signings. I said the relationship with the Coach is vital for me. And when I left the first meeting I thought ‘we’re doing very well.’
“When you have that ‘feeling’ you take note. We were similar as players. And the player off the field is often similar to on it, or vice versa. We’ll work well together, I have no doubt.
“I’ve always been honest and I’ve not hidden that in recent years I worked as an agent. That helped me understand many things. There’ll be people who don’t like it and use it to attack me.
“I’ll sign good players. I know where I am and I know my responsibility. Barca comes above everything. I’ll always be honest.”
