Premier League is Barcelona's biggest rival, says president

The Premier League is a greater threat to Barcelona than traditional rivals Real Madrid, according to Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

The 20 top-flight teams in English football will share £5.136bn for live domestic TV coverage from next season, with even the bottom club getting £99m.

That financial power concerns Bartomeu.

"Premier League teams will have an incredible financial situation from now on and we are worried," he told BBC sports editor Dan Roan.

In the interview, Bartomeu also discussed:

• Champions League wildcards for big clubs who fail to qualify
• The idea that Manchester City are out to copy Barcelona
• Plans to increase Barcelona's annual revenue to 1000m euros
• The impact Luis Suarez has had on Lionel Messi and Neymar
• And the ongoing tax problems faced by some Barcelona players

In the latest Deloitte's Football Money League - a list of the highest earning clubs around the world - Real Madrid (£439m) and Barcelona (£426m) are first and second respectively.

Manchester United (£395m) are third but look set to jump into first next year amid expectations they will become the first British club to earn more than £500m in a single year.

United's rise demonstrates the growing might of the Premier League, which has 17 clubs in the Football Money League's top 30.

Bartomeu, who admits the Premier League is the "best football competition" because it has "the most interest for fans" and "most revenues, says La Liga clubs to address the imbalance.

"We have to do our best to increase our revenues and our financial situation to make the talent of our teams stay with us," he said.

"That is why I am so worried and we are working on this. We want to keep the talent at home."

Despite the Premier League's financial muscle, Bartomeu still believes in the pulling power of his club.

"None of our players said they want to leave," he said. "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."

Credit: BBC.com

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