Oriol Romeu has given an insight into how his time at Barcelona helped develop him as a player.
The midfielder came through the Spanish club's famed academy, before eventually moving to Chelsea, from where he joined Southampton last year.
In our latest 'Spotlight on' feature, we spoke to the 24-year-old about his time at Barca, and how that helped him grow both as a player and a person.
"It was an amazing experience and I think this has helped me throughout my whole career," said Romeu.
"Everyone was trying to play the same football, the same style, and as you were growing it was easier to do the next step, because the style of play was the same."
Among those who coached the Spaniard during his time at the club was Barcelona's current boss, Luis Enrique, who is someone that Romeu retains great fondness for.
"He was always pushing the team," he recalled. "He knew he had very young, talented players, but he said to us from the first day that, without work, you cannot reach anything."
It was an attitude Romeu also saw reflected elsewhere.
"Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, also Puyol, Pique – it's amazing just to see how they work and train," he said. "They just do everything and do their best. It's not something that comes out of nothing. They work a lot in every training session and put a lot of effort in, and that is what has led to a lot of trophies and a lot of success.
"You can learn from the pitch many things, but I think also personally out of the pitch there is a lot to see and to have as an example.
"I remember Xavi, he was a very close guy. Anything you need, he was there to help you, he was there to tell you whatever you need and he was very important for young players. People like this are always an idol, but not just on the pitch, but also because off the pitch they do a lot for everyone."
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