BARCELONA -- Sergi Samper has revealed he rejected moves to the Premier League to stay with Barcelona.
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Samper, 19, said he never considered leaving the club after making his senior Barcelona debut in the club's 1-0 Champions League win over APOEL Nicosia.
A subject of major interest from the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City in the past, Samper's debut against APOEL saw him become the first player to progress from FCB Escola level through every single representative team in the club's academy through to the first team without playing for any other club.
"Yes, I had offers [from England], but it's something I didn't bother to listen to," he said following the game. "What I've always wanted is to stay here. It's an incredible feeling and I'm really happy."
Asked what coach Luis Enrique and the club's senior players said to him before the game, the youngster told said that he was told to be himself.
"The boss, Xavi, everyone told me the same thing. Be calm, do what I have done during preseason and with Barca B," he added.
Comparisons with Barca great Pep Guardiola as a player are wide of the mark, at least according to Samper himself, as the midfielder says he is too young to even remember the now-Bayern manager in his pomp.
He said: "I can't much of him to be honest, some later games yes, but I'm a different player really."
Barcelona are now top of Group F with three points after Ajax salvaged a draw against PSG.