Sergi Samper: My dream was and still is to be a success at Barcelona

Sergi Samper spent a difficult year on loan at Granada but returns to training with Barcelona on Wednesday. 

He has spoke to SPORT about coming back to the Catalan club, working with new coach Ernesto Valverde and establishing himself as a Camp Nou regular. 

Was it difficult at Granada?

It was a drastic change of style. It was the first time I had left Barça and things didn’t go as I expected, but I’m sure I have improved in many aspects and that will help me in the future. 

What did you improve on? 

I think I’m stronger mentally. At Granada every week it was a final, a really tough game with a lot of pressure because you’re fighting for survival. I’ve learned a lot of things that [at Barça] you don’t work on. Like the physical aspect of the game, individual battles, the defensive aspect… 

Are you back at Barca to stay? 

Yes, yes, yes. Like I have said, I signed a four year deal and I know the club have faith in me. The idea was to spend a year away on loan and then to come back and now I’m desperate to get started again. I am really looking forward to demonstrating that I can play here, at the club of my life, my home. 

Are you wary of the competition for places? 

Barca are the best club in the world, the best players have to be here, so I’m not worried. At the end of the day, those that deserve to play will play. 

Where’s your best position? 

I always say that my position is in front of the defences, that’s where I feel most comfortable and where I have always played. I can play further forward and I can do it well, but my position, where I am most comfortable is in front of the back four. 

And there’s a new manager in Ernesto Valverde…

People are always excited to get started when there’s a new manager, to prove themselves. I’m looking forward to seeing how the new system will be, although I don’t think it will change too much. There are always nuances, though. 

Do you think Barça need to rely on La Masia graduates? 

I think in recent years Barça have been characterised by having a lot of players from the academy and we have to try and follow that line and demonstrate that we can be here. 

And you’re already adapted…

Barça have the same idea, the same philosophy follows you from the youngest age groups right through to the first team and you know perfectly what you have to do and you don’t have to adapt. 

Do you expect to play a lot? 

Yes, why not? I don’t think anyone is given anything, but I have to earn it in the training sessions and the minutes that I have. 

What do you need to improve to establish yourself in the Barca team? 

You always have to improve many things to be a great player, but it’s a case of going little by little. I have tried to improve defensively because I think I had a few weaknesses there, but I have spent my lief here and I think I can adapt [to the team] really well. 

Iniesta and Xavi didn’t walk into the team when they were younger, are they good examples?

Yes, of course. I’m a huge Barca fan. From the age of three I hardly missed a game at Camp Nou and for me they’re references and clear examples. The same as Sergi Roberto in recent years. No one disputes [his place at Barca] now, but three years ago he was hardly playing.

Players from the academy are leaving, though, because they don’t think they’ll get chances here…

It’s true that there were offers and those players [Jordi Mboula, Eric Garcia] decided to leave. In my generation it was Hector Bellerin and Jon Toral. It’s respectable because I’m sure that the offer on an economic level and sporting level for them was better, but in my case I was clear that I wanted to be a success here. My dream was and still is to be a success at Barcelona, so in the end it was more a question of sentiment. 

Would you like to play with Deulofeu and Bellerin next season? 

I spent many years playing with them [Deulofeu and Bellerin] and we have a great relationship. I hope everything works out. Well, Gerard has has already confirmed he’s coming back and I hope Hector returns as well. 

Where do you see yourself one year from now? 

I see myself here. I hope I stay at Barça for many years. It’s my dream and I hope to be a success here.