Giovani dos Santos has asserted he is not after revenge against Barcelona, but does believe his Villarreal may be able to take a result in Week 16.
Saturday evening sees fifth place Villarreal at the Camp Nou against the joint League leaders with Giovani in their ranks as a former Barcelona youth.
Choosing to go his own way in 2008, the 24-year-old insists that he is not on the path for revenge when returning to Catalonia with the Yellow Submarine this weekend.
“I return to Barcelona and to me it is always a very special game, it is the team that opened the doors to Europe for me and where I developed,” Giovani has told reporters this week.
“I have only thanks for them and so I am not looking for revenge or anything. Now I belong to Villarreal and I owe my current team, so I do not have to prove anything to anyone.
“We face the game with a lot of respect. We will have our chances and the idea we have is to pick up a good result.
“Recent results have perhaps stung Barcelona’s pride and now they want to react. Maybe that is why they push more and with more anger, and even more so at home.
“But it seems that in the League they are facing greater difficulties recently and Saturday they may not be fine and we may be able to achieve a good result.
“Regardless of whether they are going through a rough patch, though, Barcelona are always a great team with great players who make them the best team in the world.
“Everything aside, everyone wants to have a great game against a team like Barcelona. It is a good showcase and the motivation is there to play a great game and help the team.
“Such games have importance and everyone wants to shine, whilst my motivation is only to do well for Villarreal.”
