Marc Bartra set for new Barcelona contract

Marc Bartra set for new Barcelona contract

The 22-year-old has become the stand in centre back for the Blaugrana this season, with injuries to Javier Mascherano and captain Carles Puyol, and Bartra has proved himself to be a capable replacement.

The club have been criticised recently by fans and journalists for not signing a new central defender in the summer transfer window, with Liverpool’s Daniel Agger, Paris Saint Germain’s Thiago Silva and Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny mentioned as possible targets.

Coach Tata Martino resisted the temptation to spend money on a new defender in the summer, with the club’s major signing being Neymar, who arrived from Santos for a fee of £49million.

Martino has since kept faith with Bartra, whose current contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and now according to El Mundo Deportivo, is set to renew his deal at the Camp Nou.

However in a press conference on Thursday evening, Bartra spoke about his growing confidence, which he attributes to manager Tata Martino and his future with the club, stating that he intends on remaining with the club for “many years.”

“I’m very happy with how things are going. The important thing is for the team to keep playing at the level they’re currently at. Personally, nothing has changed since the beginning of the season, although I have more confidence from recent games. The most important is to feel comfortable, be calm.

“I’m happy with the confidence I have been shown. Tata has not doubted once about playing me, little by little I feel more appreciated. I have been competing with them in training and getting a lot of advice. I am learning a lot from the bigger players, some of the best in the world. I have to pay attention and keep learning.

“I know that the club and my agent are speaking. This has been home for twelve years and I have given it everything and hope to be here for many more, the most important thing is to train and play well. I don’t think about what might happen.”