Barcelona striker David Villa has welcomed the signing of Valencia fullback Jordi Alba. Villa and Alba played together at Valencia before the former's move last summer.

He told El Mundo Deportivo: "I speak regularly with Jordi, he strikes me as a good guy and he is a spectacular player that had always played as a winger until (Unai) Emery moved him to full-back and he has been incredible.

"He was also surprised at his performance because at the start he didn't like it a lot, but now he is happier as a full-back than a winger. He has spectacular offensive movement.

"Moreover, he maintains his position defensively and can do a great deal of damage to the opponent's defence despite starting from so far away. He is a player with incredible physical conditions. He is very young and still has a great trajectory ahead of him."