Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu has vowed to fight Premier League clubs for the best players in the world and stop them from dominating the transfer market despite their new-found riches.

The top of the English game is now awash with even more money following the new £5.136 billion (Dh29.25bn) television rights agreement.

That deal does not kick in until next season, but the knockon effects are already clear to see. Manchester City have spent £49 million (Dh279m) on Raheem Sterling, Manchester United have parted with around £80m (Dh455m) and are ready to spend big on the likes of Thomas Muller or Gareth Bale if either player becomes available.

Spanish clubs have traditionally been the biggest spenders in Europe. Real Madrid paid over £80m (Dh455m) for Cristiano Ronaldo and Bale recently, while Barcelona shelled out £75m (Dh427m) to lure Luis Suarez from Liverpool last summer.

Bartomeu is not scared the Spanish sides will start losing out on the best stars because of the Premier League’s new TV deal.

“We are going to fight this,” Bartomeu said. “It’s true that the Premier League right now is the best league competition in the world, not only in a sporting way but in terms of income, too.

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“The new television rights contract with the Premier League is something that the rest of the leagues, including La Liga, have to follow.

“But we want to have the best players in our league. Barcelona and Real Madrid, we are the biggest clubs in La Liga but also other clubs like Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Sevilla or Athletic Bilbao – they are doing a nice job and I am sure that they are going to try to have big talent too.

“Barcelona’s income this year has increased to more than 600million euros, which is a record. No other club in the world has as big an income as Barcelona.”

Bartomeu insists Barcelona will press ahead with plans to redevelop the Nou Camp despite the short-term impact it may have on the club’s finances.

“The redevelopment is going to be finished in 2021 and is going to be a big step for us and a nice step for the future because we need a modern stadium which adapts to today’s competition, the needs and demands of people today,” said Bartomeu. “Our vision in 2021 is to have the best stadium in the world.” 

Bartomeu believes United will be a force to be reckoned with in the Champions League this season, partly due to the presence of Louis van Gaal, who has managed Barca on two occasions.

“He is a strong, intelligent and clever man,” Bartomeu said of the Dutchman. “He gets the best that is possible from his players.”