The present Real Betis star is a product of the famed La Masia academy system and admits he could be lured back to his roots at a certain point.
Marc Bartra is keeping the door open for a potential return to Barcelona, together with the Real Betis defender admitting that he could head back to Camp Nou at some point.
The 29-year-old centre-half is a product of the famed La Masia academy system.
He’s a Catalan native and took in over 100 appearances for Barca after breaking into their senior squad as a promising youngster.
Fierce competition for places eventually compelled him to search for game time elsewhere.
Bartra tied up with Borussia Dortmund in 2016, before procuring a switch back to La Liga in January 2018.
He continues to maintain a close watch on events in Barca, with Betis having helped the cause of his former team in their latest outing as they downed Real Madrid 2-1.
Bartra isn’t looking too far into the future in regards to potential transfers but concedes a homecoming in Catalunya could appeal to him when the opportunity presented itself.
He advised Mundo Deportivo:”At this time I’m completely focused on Betis.
“I’m feeling quite good here, although I’ve never shut the doors on a return to Barca. I spent 15 years of my life there and they were quite beautiful decades.
“I trace Barca very much. I have many friends in the locker room and there is also the coach who made me come here.”
Quique Setien was the trainer to take Bartra into Betis after it became evident that he had a means out of Dortmund.
The 61-year-old is calling the shots at Camp Nou, having been appointed by the Blaugrana as the successor to Ernesto Valverde.
It came as some surprise when the reigning Spanish champions have chosen to part with a mentor who’d delivered back-to-back name triumphs.
Setien hasn’t been completely convincing since inheriting the reins, with there still defects to be ironed out in his aspect.
Barca are, however, back on peak of the Liga table, with 11 games left to shoot in, and might yet finish a notable hat-trick — while pursuing down Champions League glory, with their last-16 experience with Serie A heavyweights Napoli now locked at 1-1.
