Gerard Deulofeu: I Would Rather Play for Stoke Than Real Madrid

Barcelona winger Gerard Deulofeu has admitted that he would rather play for Stoke City than Real Madrid.

Deulofeu - who spent last season on loan at Everton - has been recalled by new Barca boss Luis Enrique ahead of the new season and is considered the best talent to emerge from the Catalan club's academy since Lionel Messi.

When asked whether he would prefer to play for Real Madrid in Spain or in the Premier League with Stoke, the young winger said as quoted by Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo: "In Stoke."

The 20-year-old has expressed his delight about returning to the Camp Nou after a year on loan at Goodison Park, as saying: "I am not scared.

"It is the best team in the world, I will meet with the best players in the world and I come with a lot of desire and eagerness. It is a childhood dream."

The Spaniard - who starts pre-season with Barca on July 14th - is aware of the difficult task ahead of establishing himself as a fixture of Luis Enrique's starting XI with Messi, Neymar and most likely Liverpool star Luis Suarez in the front.

"Yes, they are the best players, but I am very confident in myself, I think much of my chances and I work every day hoping to get my challenges," he said. "I know where I am going and what I have to do, it is an important year for me and I will fight for everything."

"Suarez is an incredible player, one of the best number nines in the world."

Deulofeu added his year with the Toffees helped him to mature as a person and player, saying: "As a player, I have learned what can cost me in defensive aspects. It is has been very helpful.

"Until you are out and you have no family, (different) food, the weather - you do not know what you have and you learn to value things."