Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu said that the club considers the Premier League "to be a more considerable threat to their future than bitter rivals Real Madrid," according to Samuel Stevens of the London INDEPENDENT. The club beat Arsenal 2-0 in the first leg of the Champions League round-of-16 at the Emirates on Tuesday night. Premier League clubs will share a "honeypot" of £5.1B ($7.2B) for domestic TV rights in the '16-17 season in a deal "which places English clubs firmly at the top of the financial ladder." Bartomeu: "[They] will have an incredible financial situation from now on and we are worried. The Premier League is the best football competition. It has the most interest for fans and most revenues. They are doing things good and keeping teams in the competition where everyone being equal is of interest for everybody. We have different budgets in Spain and it would be difficult for someone like [current Premier League leaders] Leicester to be top of the league" (INDEPENDENT, 2/23). REUTERS' Ken Ferris reported Bartomeu "is worried more of Spain's best talent could be lured to England by the new riches on offer" but said that Barça's players "were attracted by more than just money." Bartomeu: "We have to do our best to increase our revenues and our financial situation to make the talent of our teams stay with us. That is why I am so worried and we are working on this. We want to keep the talent at home. I know our players are in touch with other clubs, it's normal. None of our players said they want to leave" (REUTERS, 2/23).
