Barcelona exclusive: With Iniesta as inspiration Samper eyes midfield general's role

Barcelona’s midfield has always been one of the best and most competitive in the world, with Pep Guardiola in particular keen to field as many midfielders as possible when manager of the club. The slight shift towards a more direct-style under current coach Luis Enrique hasn’t lessened the rivalry for a place in the starting XI and the £50 million signing of Valencia’s Andre Gomes in recent days has only intensified this further.

Youngster Sergi Samper has been at the club since he was six years old, but the talented playmaker is in no rush to make his mark. “Yes, of course there’s a lot of competition, but it’s my first full season here, so I’m just really excited to be a part of it,” admitted Samper to Yahoo Sport.

Samper has made just one La Liga appearance so far, as he appeared for the final 30 minutes of Barca’s 6-0 victory over Getafe in March, although he has featured in the Copa del Rey. The acquisition of Gomes to join the likes of Sergio Busquets, Javier Mascherano, Ivan Rakitic, Sergi Roberto and Rafinha means it’s a difficult task for the 21-year-old to gain regular playing time.

However, unsurprisingly it’s Andres Iniesta that Samper looks to as his ultimate mentor. “I’m a big fan of Iniesta. He’s like a reference point and a role model to me. I’ve learnt a lot from him in the last couple of years.”

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His ability in possession ensures that he can distribute the ball at the base of the midfield-three, but his mobility and dribbling technique means that he’s just as comfortable either side of a defensive pivot. Enrique is keen for his young players to help the squad in a variety of positions, as teammate Roberto found out when used as a right-back at times last term.

“I can play in any position across the midfield,” said Samper. “Last season I also played a bit as an inside forward, which was a bit more attacking. I will play wherever I am put.”

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He knows that by learning within the system and under the tutelage of Enrique he will improve as a player. “I had offers (this summer) but my first choice was to remain at Barcelona,” he said.

With a number of senior members still to join up with the first-team, Samper has an opportunity to impress his coaches ahead of next week’s friendlies against Celtic and Liverpool. He was also watched in training this week by two former midfielders of those sides in new England assistant manager Sammy Lee and Republic of Ireland assistant Roy Keane.

St George’s Park has proved the perfect gathering for Enrique’s men to fine tune their fitness ahead of the new campaign in Spain, as even the infamous English weather has been to the satisfaction of the Catalan visitors.

“The facilities are world-class; they really are spectacular,” added Samper. “The pitches are beautiful, whilst the weather has been pretty nice as well. We are all feeling comfortable here.”