Samper: I hoped to stay at Barça, I was Busquets' natural backup

Barcelona midfielder Sergi Samper, who will spend this season on loan at Las Palmas, has said right up until the last moment he'd hoped to stay with the first team as there's no other natural replacement for Sergio Busquets. 

The La Masia graduate, who last season was on loan at Granada, spoke on Wednesday on the programme Tu diràs de RAC1. Samper confessed that he "had hoped to stay because there was no natural replacement in Busquet's position." And he added that "Valverde told me that he was counting on me but that there was a problem with fichas and it was up in the air." 

"I'm excited to play, to enjoy football"

Samper says the international break has come at a good time for him "to adapt to the team." He also indicated that "at the moment I am not thinking about returning to Barça. I'm excited to play for Las Palmas and enjoy football. What comes after, comes." 

He recognised that "on this occasion it wasn't as difficult to pack my bags, but it's always difficult to leave Barça." And as for his style, he maintained that "mine is easily characterised, the Barça style, and I think that Las Palmas will adapt to my way of playing." 

Samper revealed that he wasn't keen on leaving Spain, so "my first option was to remain in La Liga and Las Palmas was the best option." 

However, he nuanced, "my first option was to stay with Barcelona. I had worked hard during the summer and had a good preseason. It's difficult to leave when you've bet on staying at the club of your life, but you have to accept it."  

On the absence of players from the academy in the first team in recent seasons, Samper believes that "it could be that the managers haven't taken a chance on the B team players and in the end that's meant hardly anyone has made the leap."