Rosell: Speaking Catalan a sign of love for Barcelona

Rosell: Speaking Catalan is a sign of love for Barcelona

19-Mar-2013 4:00:00 PM

The Barca chief says speaking the local language strengthens the identity of the club and helps integration

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell believes speaking Catalan is a way to show a person's affection for the Blaugrana.

The Barca supremo used club founder Joan Gamper as an example to follow when he spoke to a group of school children at an initiative aimed at promoting the use of Catalan.

"Joan Gamper wasn’t Catalan. Gamper came from outside Catalunya - he was Swiss - and he founded the club. When he arrived at Barca he was called Hans Kamper," Rosell stated.

"Any one of you, if you were born in Catalunya, then perfect, if you weren’t, then perfect too.

"We want you to be like Gamper, who arrived, became fully integrated in the country, spoke Catalan and made it the club’s official language.

"The fact that you speak Catalan, understand Catalan and are Barca fans in Catalunya, speaking Catalan is exactly what you should do to show your feelings towards the club.

"You’re Barca fans in Barcelona, who live in Catalunya and share Catalunyan values, wherever you come from, north or south."