Més que un Club

This is a motto etched onto every true Barça fan's heart. Their support burns brightly even at the club's darkest hour.

All for the same reason. Because they believe. They believe not only in what they see on a football field but because of what FC Barcelona represents. The politics of the club seem to reflect the whole of Catalonia.

These roots were sewn many years ago in a time when Catalans risked imprisonment if they spoke their own language in public or showed any form of Catalan pride. At a time when General Francisco Franco suppressed any sign of Catalan nationalism, it seemed Spain and Catalonia were on very different paths. Exactly the way the public viewed the two Spanish football giants. Real Madrid represented Franco's Spain while Barcelona represented a sanctuary for proud Catalans.

In the present day Franco's strict regime is over and Catalans are free to speak their language, but the image of the two clubs remains unchanged. Barça reflect a proud nation of Catalans, while Real are viewed as a symbolic reminder of Franco's fascist regime.

Another argument is that Real Madrid lacks the passion of Barcelona. They argue that Madrid is a collection of players not a team. Whereas Barcelona are often described as one of the best teams in history with great team unity. While Barcelona's best players have very small egos, sadly the same can't be said about Real's finest? But there have been some Barcelona players who have gone against the tide.

In his recent book, Zlatan Ibrahimović protested against players such as Xavi, Iniesta and Messi. Claiming they were like "school boys" in the way they always listened to what their manager told them. But what he failed to realise is that these players wanted to listen to their manager because they understood that's how they would evolve as players. Therefore a comment such as Ibrahimović's was taken as a compliment to the top professionals that are Xavi, Iniesta and Messi.

Ibrahimović's ego and desire to be the biggest player at the club soon made him realise the Camp Nou would not be suitable for him. Zlatan talks about how Barça players were told to bring sensible cars to training, something he felt so strongly against he drove his Ferrari Enzo to training. An act which was seen as the last straw for Guardiola and Ibrahimović was loaned out to Milan.

Ibrahimović's problem might not have arisen had he chosen a move to the Bernabau. A club where some players seem to care more about fast cars and photo shoots then they do about actually playing football.

Other then Ibrahimović, you rarely hear about Barcelona players being annoyed about the way the team works. Usually it's the same case as Xavi, Iniesta and Messi. Players are there to play for the greatest club in the world, not to cash in on a big pay cheque. This is why so many Barcelona fans love their club, it's because they know that when the players grace the field it's because they want to win for the club and not just for themselves.

Barcelona isn't just a club for Catalans though, it's passion is shared on an international level. You could travel to the furthest corners of the earth and would still probably see a small boy with the name "Messi" across his back. An example is the team's recent trip to Japan where they stepped off the plane to be greeted by thousands of adoring fans each displaying the shirt of their favourite player. It is because Barcelona stretch across the world that they have become known as "more then a club." They represent Catlonia at it's best, where the heart lies not just the head.

The Camp Nou is often described as a cathedral of football. But it means so much more to the fans. It is a place of sanctuary. Where they can go to escape their problems and join together with other Cules, relishing in their team's success. So when they hear those sacred words "Més que un club" they believe it with every inch of their heart.