David Villa vows to enhance quality of 'world's best football team'

The Spain international passed a medical and signed a four-year deal, which has an option for a further 12 months, at the Nou Camp yesterday before being presented to 35,000 fans.

Barcelona retained their Primera Division crown last weekend and the addition of Villa to an already formidable forward line ought to make it even tougher for arch rivals Real Madrid to reclaim the title. After signing a deal which contains a 200 million buy-out clause, the 28-year-old said: "I hope that all Barcelona fans will be happy with my performances. I have come to a club that has won everything in recent years, so I will add my little bit to make the club better than it is now and continue that run of success.

"It is already the best football team and club in the world."

Villa's arrival has led to speculation Zlatan Ibrahimovic would now be surplus to requirements after a mixed first season following his arrival from Inter Milan in a swap deal which saw Samuel Eto'o move in the opposite direction.

But Villa, top scorer in Spain's Euro 2008 triumph, is hoping he can play alongside the Sweden international.

"If you work with enthusiasm then everyone is compatible," he said.

Villa's message was echoed by Barca's technical secretary Txiki Begiristain, who added: "The season is very long and challenging and we have many quality strikers. Just because Villa comes does not mean Ibra will have to go.

"Ibrahimovic had a spectacular season for three-quarters of it and his future has not been discussed. Ibra will be happy (with Villa's arrival) because it's always good to have competition and he wants the same as Villa which is to win titles."

Villa scored 107 goals in 166 league matches for Valencia after establishing himself with Real Zaragoza, and is hoping goals will continue to fly in for his new club.

"It's always hard to score goals, but when you have players like Xavi, (Lionel) Messi, (Sergio) Busquets, (Seydou) Keita or Pedro (Rodriguez) around you, it's bound to be a little easier for a striker," he said.

Villa helped Valencia win the 2008 Copa del Rey and moves on having fired the club to a third-place finish in La Liga in 2009/10 and a return to the Champions League.

"I leave with the satisfaction that the club has returned to where it deserves to be every year – fighting among the best in Europe in the Champions League," he added.

Meanwhile, Barcelona technical secretary Txiki Begiristain says the Catalan club will be "respectful" to Arsenal in their pursuit of Cesc Fabregas.

After signing Villa, they are ready to step up their bid for the London club's captain before president Joan Laporta's term finishes this summer.

Fabregas, who suffered a leg fracture in the closing weeks of the season, revealed last week at a promotional event in Barcelona that he would like to return to the club he left as a youngster to move to England.

Begiristain said: "The player has shown his will to come to Barca, but we will not do anything until Arsenal want to negotiate. We have the will of the player to come to Barcelona, but what we won't do is start to negotiate without Arsenal until an agreement is reached.

"Cesc has a contract with his club and we will be very respectful."

Begiristain said Barcelona are still awaiting a response from Arsenal.

"As he has the will to return, we contacted Arsenal to ask them if they are ready to negotiate. We are waiting for an answer."

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has vowed the club will do all they can to prevent Fabregas leaving.

Arsenal maintain that they are not interested in negotiating a fee, even though Fabregas has told them he wants to return to Spain.

Hill-Wood questioned the Spanish club for the way they have conducted themselves over the issue and remain committed to keeping the midfielder, with the chairman even saying Arsenal are "confident" of success.

"The message has been given to them we don't want to lose him and will do our damnedest to keep him," Hill-Wood said.

"We haven't had an official approach from them and have made it perfectly clear we don't want to lose him."

Hill-Wood insists the board and manager Arsene Wenger have not even discussed an asking price.

Discussing Barcelona's open pursuit, he said: "It's a funny way of doing business.

"I've really got little to say but we very much hope he stays with us and we're confident he will."