FCBARCELONA.CAT

30.08.2007 14:36

Motta: “I just want to play”

Sandra Sarmiento

Barca’s Italian-Brazilian midfielder Thiago Motta told a press conference at the Nou Camp today: “I just want to be playing regularly- whether that’s here or somewhere else”, and admitted the interest shown in signing him by Rome and Atletico Madrid

The transfer window closes this Friday and with Motta available for transfer since the end of last season, he declared his overwhelming desire for regular football:” I just want to play. Here or elsewhere -somewhere I can feel comfortable and feel I have everyone’s confidence”.

Rome and Atletico Madrid

Motta didn’t mind admitting that Rome and Atletico Madrid were interested in signing him: “they are two big clubs. The market closes tomorrow and we’ll just have to see if something comes off- it’ll either be with one of those two, or I’ll be staying here in Barcelona. For me it’s important that a quality team believes in me”.

El respeto de Rijkaard

Speaking to www.fcbarcelona.cat and Barça TV last week, boss Frank Rijkaard explained that if Motta and Ezquerro stayed at the club, they’d be treated just the same as all the other squad members and Motta acknowledged:” if I stay I know the boss is always fair with the players and if I work hard, I’ll get my chance”.

Proud of progress

Thiago Motta joined Barca in June 1999 and after his time in the youth squad made his first team debut in the 2001-2002 season: “when I came here I was an unknown, now I’ve been here for a few seasons and I feel proud to have come from Brazil and succeeded in a great team like Barça”.

The Gamper Trophy

Motta played 45 minutes of the Gamper and rounded off the night with a goal: “I was really happy to score – it’s always great to score”. Motta also understood the negative reaction of some of the fans: “there’s been a lot of talk about me over the summer and I didn’t make a great start to the game. It’s only normal – but I’m sure that if I stay, I’ll take it as a challenge to win the fans over again”.