Barca president hails Spanish soccer over English

The English Premier League boasts some of the top managers in the game, but to see the best players in the world you have to watch Spanish soccer, said Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu.

While much of the focus in England is placed on managers such as Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger, Juergen Klopp and Antonio Conte, Bartomeu said La Liga revolves around players like Lionel Messi.

“That’s why La Liga is making a lot of effort as a league. But when we talk about La Liga I am very happy because the best players in the world play here – Messi, number one,” Bartomeu said in an interview with The Daily Telegraph.

“For me, Neymar, number two. Cristiano Ronaldo, number three... So the best players in the world are playing in La Liga.

“The stars who are players are here, and maybe, right now, in the Premier League the stars are the coaches. Not the players.”

“When we try and find new players, you find teams like Arsenal, Tottenham, Man City, United, Chelsea... But if I look at it football-wise then La Liga is still the best.”

With Messi’s contract expiring after the 2018 World Cup, Bartomeu said Barcelona were set to begin talks over the Argentine’s future at the Nou Camp.

“Not yet. But we will have the negotiation with Messi in the next couple of months.", he added.