FC Barcelona News

FC Barcelona were today drawn alongside Italian champions Inter Milan in Group F of the Champions League group stage draw, thus creating two mouth-watering fixtures where both Barça’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Inter’s Samuel Eto’o will play against their former clubs.

Club president Joan Laporta, who witnessed the draw live in Monaco where Dynamo Kiev and Rubin Kazan were also allocated places in Group F, spoke about his feeling that the draw with Inter was destiny.

“Fate does these things some times, but I was convinced that we were going to get Inter,” Laporta explained. “It will be nice to see Eto’o again at the Camp Nou. Also Ibrahimovic will be back at Milan and Thiago Motta – now in the nerazzurro team – will return [to the Camp Nou]“.

Laporta is convinced that the Cameroon striker will be very motivated on his return to the stadium that was his home for 5 seasons, and feels the Culés will welcome him with open arms.

“I do not know if these types of games, [given that they are] so competitive, are the best for a tribute,” he commented. “But it is clear that we will receive him as he deserves. Samuel has given a lot for this club and Barça will always bear him in mind because he has given us many joys over the years”.

However Laporta believes that FC Barcelona will have a similarily-motivated weapon: Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

“Ibra will also be highly motivated. He is a player that likes this type of challenge and knows this has to be his year in the Champions League”.

Laporta admitted that FC Barcelona and Inter will probably contest for the top spot of the group, but did not write off Dynamo Kiev and Rubin Kazan.

“I hope that Barça lead the group, but we can’t be positive about this. We will have to work hard and take into account that it will not be easy because in Ukraine and Russia it is very cold for this time of the year”.

FC Barcelona’s first group game is against Inter at the San Siro on Wednesday 16th September.