Ernesto Valverde has claimed that Barcelona have only strengthened their status as the "best team in the world" following the arrivals of two new players.
The Catalan giants brought in Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool for a mammoth sum earlier this week, which they added to with the £10m capture of Yerry Mina on Thursday.
Barca already boast a 16-point advantage over champions Real Madrid in La Liga, while closest challengers Atletico Madrid are six points worse off after playing a game more.
Valverde believes that his side are now the envy of teams not just in Spain but around the world, telling reporters: "I'm very happy with the players who I had before the arrival of these two players, and with the ones I had at the end of the summer and with the ones I have now.
"I thought Barca was the best team when I was the coach of Athletic and now I can see that. Barca is the best team in the world. "
Coutinho will not make his Barca debut until February due to injury, while Valverde hinted that Mina will also be left out against Real Sociedad on Sunday evening.
Daniel Lewis
