Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu admits he is increasingly concerned by the financial power of teams in the Premier League.
Bartomeu, in an interview with the BBC as the Catalans go to London to play Arsenal in the Champions League, cited England’s new TV rights deal that would see even the Premier League’s bottom club receive £99m.
“Premier League teams will have an incredible financial situation from now on and we are worried,” he acknowledged, denying, when asked by the interviewer, that Real Madrid were Barca’s main rival, Marca notes.
“We have to do our best to increase our revenues and our financial situation to make the talent of our teams stay with us.
“That is why I am so worried and we are working on this. We want to keep the talent at home.”
Bartomeu insisted, however, that it’s not a problem Barca are facing now, as players at Camp Nou are there for reasons other than financial.
“None of our players said they want to leave,” he stressed.
“Most get better economical offers, but our players are not in Barcelona for the money…they are there because of the football and the fans' commitment.”
