Former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has applauded the Catalan club's decision to sign Valencia left-back Jordi Alba.
The Blaugrana announced on Thursday that they had reached an agreement worth €14 million for the Valencia defender, ending weeks of speculation about the 23-year-old's move to Camp Nou.
Alba, who spent part of his youth career in the La Masia set-up, has been in great form for the Spain national team at Euro 2012, and Guardiola has no doubt that the defender will be a quality asset to the club.
"Jordi Alba is a great signing," he told Indonesian television channel RCTI. "I will enjoy seeing him at Barca next season because he is a very good player."
Guardiola then looked back at his successful four-year reign at Barcelona and refused to single out a single player when asked about the best footballer he coached.
"I had the privilege to coach an incredible team, with a philosophy in which everyone believed and with players who are very talented and wanted to do things better every day," the 41-year-old said.
"That was the secret behind all the successes we had.
"The best player? Everyone is very good. Xavi, Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta have a lot of talent, but also Carles Puyol, Victor Valdes, Thierry Henry or Samuel Eto'o.
"The merits belonged to the squad."
ANALYSIS, May 18 – When Datuk Seri Najib Razak decided to name 12 East Malaysians to the Cabinet this week, the prime minister was recognising their contribution to ensuring a majority for a Barisan Nasional (BN) government.


