Bartra: Barcelona don't need another centre-back

The defender is pleased with his performances in the European Under-21 Championship, especially considering his infrequent appearances at Camp Nou

Barcelona centre-back Marc Bartra hopes to prove that the club do not need to invest in a new defender this summer.

There have been suggestions that Paris Saint-Germain star Thiago Silva could make the leap from Ligue 1 to La Liga in the upcoming transfer window following Tito Vilanova's confirmation that the Catalans are in the market for a centre-back.

Bartra, who has helped Spain Under-21s keep a clean sheet en route to Tuesday's European Championship final, believes he is capable of stepping up into a permanent first-team position instead of a new, high-profile signing coming in.

The 22-year-old told AS: "All I can do is focus on my game and show those that watch me play that I’m good enough to stay at Barca and that perhaps the club doesn’t need to buy another centre-back.

"I know that by being at Barca there will always be a lot of completion for centre-back but that’s what these [Under-21] tournaments are for, to show people how good you are. That is how I’m looking at it."

Bartra is delighted with his performances in a Spain Under-21 jersey heading into the Euros final against Italy this week and is pleased to hear his Barca comrades are following the squad's progress in Israel.

He admitted: "I’m very happy because I didn't play regularly during the year and I wasn’t sure how I’d cope during this tournament, but I think that I’m responding very well."

"I speak with my team-mates, with Alba, Xavi and some of the other Barca players in the Spain side who are following our progress, that gives you confidence."