Bruno cannot quite believe what he is seeing at the moment.

Not on the pitch, where his Albion team are a respectable mid-table at the quarter-way mark.

Nor from a more personal point of view, where he has taken to the Premier League like, as the Spanish say, a fish in water.

What he cannot quite fathom are events back in his native Catalonia.

And the man from a small rural town near Tarragona hopes it all ends peacefully in his homeland’s battle for independence.

The Catalan flashpoints have made news in this country. It is getting nasty. But it is hard to get a real grip on what is going on unless you are there.

And that is what tugs at Bruno miles away focusing on the biggest football season of his career.

Concentration levels on the pitch have not dimmed. That goes without saying.

The Argus:

Feelings are running high in Catalonia

But Barcelona players have been talking about the independence issue in their changing room.

And Bruno has been doing his best to keep abreast of events on a more individual basis once the day’s work is over.

It all kicked off on what was supposed to be a special day for the Seagulls skipper – October 1, the day he led his side at the Emirates on his 37th birthday.

By the time he appeared for post-match interviews, word was coming through of heated scenes in Barcelona, where Barca took the hugely controversial decision to play their home game that day behind closed doors.

On his social media platforms, which are set to public, Bruno wrote: “It was a sad day, very sad on the sports field with my beloved Brighton and back home on a human level, with my beloved Catalonia. ‘Violence is the fear of others’ ideals’ – Gandhi.”

A month on, things have not improved.

Speaking after the draw with Southampton, Bruno told The Argus: “I don’t know what to think.

“It is a really tough situation and it’s hard to follow. It’s not good from what I see.

“It’s bad, especially when you are a long way from home and you can’t be with the family.

“You can’t know first-hand how things are going.

“You see things on the internet you see the news and it’s tough.

“I hope it can all sort itself out.in a peaceful way and that there are no problems.

“I hope people use their common sense, which is the most important thing, and that they can come to an agreement.”

Asked whether he backed the bid for independence, Bruno replied: “What I want to see is a Catalonia which has a fair crack, from Madrid or from Spain.

“That people respect Catalonia for its different characteristics, like the language, the culture, and from an economic point of view.

“I also want to see Catalan governors who use dialogue before anything else, who talk to convince the Spanish government of what we want and what we are fighting for.

“I want to see it all done on a basis of dialogue and hopefully we achieve what we are looking for.”

While Bruno wants to see a radical change in how things are going back home, he is more than happy with the state if play for his football club in the Premier League.

Chris Hughton’s observation that the Premier League suits his skipper better than the Championship looks spot-on.

Gary Neville, who knows a bit about right-back play, put it simply on Sky Sports after the recent win at West Ham.

The Argus:

Bruno impressed at West Ham

He told Hughton: “I was looking at your right-back thinking, ‘Wow, what a performance that was in terms of his positioning, his tactical awareness.”

Bruno is so used to hearing people talk about his age that his first instinct was to think Neville was referring to him playing well for a 37-year-old.

It didn’t sound like that. It just sounded like a straight compliment irrespective of age.

But Bruno admits he feels at home.

He said: “In the Premier League you maybe have a bit more time to think when you are on the ball.

“It’s not as physical or as quick.

“The errors are a lot more costly in the Premier League but you also have a bit more time to think about what you are doing.

“I’m trying to enjoy it but knowing about the demands of playing in the best league in the world.”

The best? Really? “Yes, in terms of organisation, of its competitive nature, of the stadia, this is the best league in the world.

“True, in Spain you have Barcelona and Real Madrid who are the best teams in the world.

“But in terms of a league. I’d say this is the best.”

The next instalment comes across the bridge as Albion chase a point or three at Swansea.

They come up against Swans boss Paul Clement for the first time since leading twice at Derby almost two years ago before having to settle for a 2-2 draw.

A win in the Principality would be as welcome as peace in the autonomous community back home.

Bruno said: “Away from home it is always hard. They have had some good results, some bad. They are a bit unpredictable.

“But they have very good players and have experience in the Premier League.

“It is going to be a very even game. The two teams are quite similar.

“Hopefully we can surprise them.”