The list of requirements published for the tender stipulated that the new stadium should guarantee the best possible conditions for the enjoyment of football matches. 100% of the stadium terraces were to be covered, with excellent views from every seat and a number of measures were to be respected with regard to comfort for all users.

The main characteristics of the new Camp Nou will be:

• All seats will be covered and protected from adverse weather conditions (wind, sun and rain). The new roof must measure more than 47,000 m².
• In the new stadium, all seats must have a perfect view of the pitch, with the first tier being made steeper. The whole stadium, as well as the new screens and video scoreboards, should be visible from all seats.
• The video scoreboards will use the latest high resolution digital technology with LED type systems.
• The second tier shall be maintained but with improved accessibility and comfort.
• The third tier shall be completed to reach the same height as the current lateral zone. Gates, comfort and services shall be improved.
• The capacity shall be increased to provide seating for 105,000 spectators.
• Spaces between seats to be improved and all seats to be replaced (more comfortable and ergonomic designs).
• Each tier shall be provided with carefully distributed places for persons with reduced mobility and other disabilities.
• The aisles shall be widened and free from vertical connection hubs, thus making these spaces more comfortable for supporters.
• The existing stairways to be adapted to current standards and to be better distributed.
• Increase in capacity to be used to provide seats to persons on the season ticket waiting list and to provide the adapted seating that is currently lacking.
• Draft project to include criteria regarding energy saving and environmental sustainability in order to obtain the required quality certificates.
• In order to generate the utmost safety regarding visiting supporters, and to minimise possible disturbance caused to other season ticket holders and spectators, the terraces shall be divided into sections, with separate entrances and passageways inside the stadium, as well as specific zones and services, being designated to these supporters.
• Catering and hospitality areas to be improved in all areas of the new Camp Nou.
• The Espai Barça foresees construction of an underground parking lot, thus freeing up a large public area that shall be accessible and open to the neighbourhood, located between the Camp Nou and the new Palau Blaugrana.

Work on the new Camp Nou is scheduled to start in the 2017/18 season and to end in the 2021/22 season.

The Espai Barça

The FC Barcelona members voiced their unanimous approval of the new Espai Barça project to transform all of the Club’s sports facilities, including the Camp Nou, Palau Blaugrana and Miniestadi, at a referendum held on 4 April 2014, where 72.36% of voters gave the green light to the remodelling and reconstruction of the FC Barcelona premises on this site.

The New Palau Blaugrana

Last January 29, the Espai Barça jury unanimously selected the bid by HOK + TAC Arquitectes as the winner of the tender for the design of the new Palau Blaugrana. The event to officially present the new Palau Blaugrana project was held last March 1. Work on the new Palau Blaugrana is scheduled to start in the 2017/18 season and end in the 2019/20 season.

The new Palau Blaugrana facility will be located on the current site of the Miniestadi, right next to the new Camp Nou station on Metro Line 9, and will consist of four separately functioning spaces. There will be a huge new multi-purpose Palau that will hold 12,000 spectators for sports events and 12,500 spectators for cultural and social events. There will also be an auxiliary arena for 2,000 spectators and a complementary ice rink (800 spectators). In addition, there will be a new FCBEscola facility, including brand new buildings and two football pitches.

The New Miniestadi

The Batlle i Roig Arquitectes studio won the tender for the new Miniestadi, which concluded last May and will be built at the Ciutat Esportiva training ground for a cost of 12 million euros. Batlle i Roig had previously been involved in the design of the Ciutat Esportiva itself, and its new Miniestadi has been adapted to the bidding requirements. It will be able to hold 6,000 spectators, will meet the UEFA category III standards and shall have covered terraces and parking for 600 vehicles. It will operate separately from the rest of the Ciutat Esportiva and is due to be opened in June 2017.

FC Barcelona has announced that the Espai Barça jury has unanimously selected the bid by Nikken Sekkei + Pascual i Ausió Arquitectes  as the winner of the tender for the design of the new Camp Nou. The jury, made up of five FCB members, three members of the Col·legi d’Arquitectes de Catalunya (COAC) and one member of Barcelona City Council, made its decision after a review of the different proposals by a technical commission in accordance with the criteria established in the regulations and requirements for the tender. The decision was made at a meeting held this afternoon in the  Ricard Maxenchs Press Room at Camp Nou

The Nikken Sekkei + Pascual i Ausió Arquitectes proposal stands out for being open, elegant, serene, timeless Mediterranean and democratic.

It is also notable for its relationship with the environment, providing depth, creating shadows and making members the stars of the facade and of the open area at all times. The proposal presents a very subtle attempt to intervene in the environment to facilitate circulation and achieve diverse urban usage in the Barça Campus and guarantees a clear and safe construction.

In short, it is a unique solution, reproducing the characteristic vision of the grandstand and canopy, from the inside out, a silent and powerful tribute to the stadium built by Francesc Mitjans in 1957.

International Architectural Tender

Last June 5 brought the start of the the International Architectural Tender to select the projects for the new Camp Nou and the new Palau Blaugrana. The bidding process began with the publication of the regulations and selection criteria. The tender was run over two phases and was conducted in collaboration with the Col·legi d’Arquitectes de Catalunya.

The jury was made up of five members of FC Barcelona, four from the Board of Directors and one architect; three members of the Col·legi d’Arquitectes; and one representative of Barcelona City Council. The FC Barcelona members of the Espai Barça jury were Josep Maria Bartomeu, Susana Monje, Jordi Moix, Emili Rousaud and architect Juan Pablo Mitjans. The Col·legi d’Arquitectes de Catalunya (COAC) was represented by its dean Lluís Comeron, and architects Arcadi Pla and Joan Forgas, while the Council was represented by its assistant city planning manager, Aurora López.

The first phase of the tender involved the pre-qualification of the different teams on the basis of the regulations and selection criteria. A total of 45 teams initially presented bids, 26 for the new Camp Nou and 19 for the new Palau, along with their credentials and evidence of their experience of similar projects.

In September 2015, the Espai Barça jury and technical committee selected, from the original 26 candidatures, eight teams for the definitive tender for the Camp Nou. The teams had to be composed of one international studio and one local one, and had to base their proposals on the list of conditions published by the technical commission overseeing the tender, which was made up of the Espai Barça technical board, led by the director of the Patrimonial Area, William T. Mannarelli, and two architects from the Col·legi d’Arquitectes de Catalunya (COAC).

The team formed by NIKKEN SEKKEI + Joan Pascual i Ramon Ausió Arquitectes has been selected ahead of bids by: AECOM + B720 Arquitectes, AFL + Mateo Arquitectura, Arup Sport + Taller d’Arquitectura Ricardo Bofill, BIG + IDOM + BAAS Arquitectes, GENSLER Sport + OAB, HKS + COX + Batlle i Roig Arquitectes, and POPULOUS + Mias Arquitectes + RCR Arquitectes.

The public presentation

The presentation of the construction project of the New Camp Nou will be made at a public ceremony to be held in the coming weeks. The permanent exhibition of the Espai Barça, located in the Sala París, open to members and fans, and which was opened to coincide with the presentation of the New Palau Blaugrana, will be complemented by the winning project for the New Camp Nou. Thus, the exhibition will reveal in detail the proposed transformation of all the Club's sports facilities.

Since the Espai Barça Project exhibition opened on the  Camp Nou Boulevard on 2 March, there has been a good reception among fans and members, with a total of 6,667 visitors through today at noon, including last weekend's influx with three big games from FC Barcelona's sections that were played at the Palau.

Between Saturday and Sunday, a total of 4,844 people visited the exhibition, thanks to many of the spectators who attended the handball, hockey and basketball games that the Barça Lassa played who took the opportunity to learn about the Espai Barça project.

FC Barcelona’s youth teams were officially presented for the 2015/16 season, a total of 281 boys and 77 girls across 20 teams, on Thursday at the Ciutat Esportiva.

In attendance were Josep Maria Bartomeu (president), Jordi Mestre (director of professional football and responsible for women’s football), Silvio Elías (director of professional youth football), Xavier Vilajoana (director of amateur youth football), Albert Soler (director of professional sports), Pep Segura (technical secretary of professional youth football), Xavi Llorens (technical secretary of women’s football), Jordi Roura (technical secretary of amateur youth football), and Aureli Altimira (assistant to the technical secretary of amateur youth football).

All players and coaches gathered on the field for a 2015/16 team photo. Captain of the U14 women’s team Jana Fernandez opened by saying: “It is an honour for my teammates and for me to be part of this club which dedicates so much effort to its youth teams and, furthermore, is firmly committed to women's sports".

Àlex Rico, captain of U14 A side, said: “Thanks to this club we learn various values, such as the ability to sacrifice and to work as a team. It is vital to combine studying and sport with maximum humility and solidarity.”

President Josep Maria Bartomeu was also on hand to provide some words of wisdom:“To be here is a dream, and to get to the first team is within reach of those who have the talent and strive."

FC Barcelona, the digital leader in the sporting world, is expanding its presence on Instagram with the launch of official accounts for the Club's other professional sports teams: @FCBbasket, @FCBhandbol, @FCBhoquei, @FCBfutsal and the women's soccer team @FCBfemeni.

Barça fans everywhere can follow the day-to-day activities of these teams from another point of view. Images and videos will take centre stage in the new Instagram profiles, especially on match days, when rare, behind-the-scenes looks at each team will be able to be seen.

The move further strengthens FC Barcelona's presence on Instagram. The Club opened the first official @FCBarcelona account on 15 January 2013. Now, during the first week of March the account reached 30 million followers — 20 million of which came in the past year alone — making it the most followed Instagram account among sports clubs.

The FCB Legends officially debut on 1 April in Mexico for a match versus legends of the Mexico national team at 7:30pm (local time) at the Estadio Corregidora.

Mexico has a large number of Barça fans, which is why Movistar, the Official Sponsor of FC Barcelona in Latin America, has organised the game in the country, which has burning passion for football.

The Catalan team will be coached by Jose Mari Bakero and will have former players like Carles Puyol, who could return to play for the first time since his retirement. Other former Barça players tabbed to participate include Éric Abidal, Ronald de Boer, Vitor Bahía and Juliano Belletti, among others. Mexico will be coached by Jorge Campos and will feature players such as Jared Borgetti, Ramón Ramírez, Francisco 'Kikín' Fonseca, Luis ‘Matador’ Hernández and Braulio Luna.

FCB Legends aims to highlight the figure of those players who have worn the FC Barcelona shirt and is a program developed between the Club and the FCB Players Association that aims to contribute to the globalisation of the Barça brand and the spread of its values through the former players, while providing income to the players after their retirement.

The Board of Directors, who met today in ordinary session at the Camp Nou, approved the following agreements:

Request of Copa del Rey final timetable to facilitate the movement of members and fans

Ahead of the meeting between the finalists of the Copa del Rey, initiated by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), which will be held tomorrow at its headquarters in Madrid, the Board of Directors has agreed to ask that the match kicks off as early as possible, preferably at 7.00pm CET, as the day after the final is a working day. They will also ask for the highest number of tickets possible at reasonable prices, with the aim of accommodating as many members, supporters clubs and fans as possible.

Compliance with the requirement of the Professional Football League (LFP) for the location of organised supporters groups in the stadium

The Board has accepted to comply with the LFP’s requirement to create a designated area in the Camp Nou for organised supporters groups, in accordance with the rules of the competition. The LFP’s rule specifies that all clubs that have organized supporters groups must be grouped into a space in their stadiums with specific measures regarding closure, control and access.

The regulation of this area, from an organisational, logistical and control perspective, is detailed in the regulations. Its main features are:

- It is intended only for local fans and is differentiated and sectored independently of the rest of the stands, with exclusive access.

- It has a biometric identification control system, both personal and nontransferable.

- It can only be accessed forming part of a register, with certain data and special regulations, and at the disposal of the security team of the Club and the security forces of the State.

- The members of these areas will be subject to a system of behavior and special disciplinary regime, and at the disposal of the control measures.

- Regulations and matters subject to regulation which also affect this area, should become operational as soon as possible and, in any case, for the 2016/17 season.

In regard to the Camp Nou, this area will be in the lower north stand behind the goal. In fact, the 2012/13 season saw a process get underway to change the location to other areas of the stadium.

This tier will have three exclusive access doors and the whole area will be sectioned and isolated, with biometric turnstiles and special measures of control and security.

All members of this area need to be members of the club, older than 16 years of age, with at least three years of subscription.

Organized supporters groups must be constituted as an association and transfer the registration of its members to the Club to be part of this space. This arrangement is in addition to individual biometric registration and document of agreement between the parties.

Organized supporters groups can only be in the lower north stand behind the goal. As a result, the lower south stand, where these groups currently are located, will have the same treatment as any other area of the stadium’s stands, with the same rules and regulations in regard to capacity and safety.

Extraordinary security measures for the match against Arsenal

The Board has has analysed the  extraordinary security measures agreed between the Club and the Catalan police for Wednesday’s Champions League match against Arsenal. The Board wishes to thank in advance the cooperation and understanding of the members and fans for these necessary security measures.

Appeal against the decision of the Anti-Violence Commission

The Board has been informed of the filing of the appeal against the decision of the Anti-Violence Commission for not opening disciplinary proceedings against commentators 'Poli' Rincón and Manuel Sanchís.

Presentation of the finalist projects of the Espai Barça (Palau Blaugrana and Camp Nou)

The Board has been informed of all the finalist projects presented in the competition organized by the Espai Barça for both the New Palau Blaugrana and New Camp Nou. Board members have been able to gain a visual insight into these projects through the material provided by the candidates.

New FCBEscola campuses in the United States and Japan

The Board has approved two agreements for the creation of FCBEscola campuses in the United States and Japan. For the United States, it is an agreement that will 20 campuses across the nation including Orlando, Miami, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta and Kansas, between March and August this year. Regarding Japan, eleven campuses will be set up between May this year and April of next year.

Representatives of FC Barcelona and Sevilla met at the headquarters of the Royal Spanish Football Federation where they reached an agreement for both teams to have 19,301 tickets for the Copa del Rey final.

FC Barcelona director of professional sports Albert Soler was in attendance, and was pleased to reveal the prices of the tickets: "Tickets range from €50 to €240. We must take into account that they are cheaper than the final to that was played here four years ago at the Vicente Calderón”.

Soler also revealed the agreement between both clubs to convince those responsible to reconsider the time of the final, initially set for 9.30pm CET.

"We asked that the Federation to be the mediator of a meeting in between Sevilla, the club and the Federation to convince the operator that it is too late to host a final as the next day is a work day,” said Soler.

He added: "We want the fans to travel to Madrid and to be able return to their homes at a relatively respectable hour”.

An official lunch between directors of Arsenal and FC Barcelona took place at midday at the famous Liceu of Barcelona ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League match at Camp Nou.

The attendees were able to take in all of the concert hall’s glory. With its 2,292 seats, Liceu is the largest Italian-style opera house in Europe and the second in the world after the Teatro Colón of Buenos Aires.

The lunch was attended by representatives of both clubs, of UEFA and of the embassy and consulate of Great Britain. On behalf of Arsenal were chairman Sir Chips Keswick, directors Ivan Gazidis, Richard Carr and Harris Lord, general secretary David Miles, and director of football operations Dick Law.

Representing Barça were president Josep Maria Bartomeu, vice-presidents Carles Vilarrubí, Manel Arroyo and Susana Monje, director of football Raúl Sanllehí as well as the Club's delegates for relations with UEFA Amador Bernabeu and David Bellver.

On behalf of UEFA was match delegate Bernd Barutta, and representing the embassy and consulate of Great Britain was Simon Manley, ambassador of Great Britain to Spain, Consul General of Great Britain to Barcelona Lloyd Milen plus Consular Regional Director for Southern Europe Will Middleton.

Before lunch, four singers of the Choir of Liceu who are part of a group called 'Barcelona 4 Cats' sang a couple of songs a cappella.

President Josep Maria Bartomeu said: "We invited the directors of Arsenal at Liceu to show that Barcelona is a welcoming city and takes good care of its guests”.

An estimated 15,158 people visited the Johan Cruyff memorial at the Camp Nou on its opening day to pay their respects to the legendary Dutchman who passed away on Thursday.

The condolence area was opened at 10.00am CET on Saturday in the presence of the Board of Directors and Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

The emotional ceremony began with a minute’s silence in front of a photograph of the man who changed the history of the club.

Bartomeu shared some words on Cruyff: “These are very sad days for Barca, and in accordance with the (Cruyff) family, this condolence area will remain open until Tuesday. Everything that is left at this memorial will be delivered to Johan’s family so they can feel the warmth and love of everyone. Barça’s success would not have been achieved without him as manager. This memorial is for anyone who wants to say their last farewell to Johan.”

Plethora of well-known figures pay their respects

The day was marked with a number of visits from well-known figures. They included the president of the Generalitat of Catalonia Carles Puigdemont, the ex-president of the Generalitat Artur Mas, former Barca president Joan Laporta, and president of the Catalan Football Federation Andreu Subies among many others.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, along with the director of institutional relations Emilio Butragueño also gave their condolences as did RCD Espanyol in a delegation led by their manager Constantin Galca. Valencia CF counselor Juan Cruz Sol and ex-Barca player José Ramon Alexanko, current director of Valencia’s academy, were also present.

The day continued with visits from members, Barça fans and the footballing world who queued outside the main stand at Camp Nou to say their last farewells to the legendary Johan Cruyff.

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The second day of recognition for Johan Cruyff was just as massive as the first, as 16,116 people visited the Memorial on Sunday for a two-day grand total of 31,274 attendees, a clear indicator of the greatness of the figure of Cruyff. Everyone who came to Camp Nou to pay tribute to the blaugrana legend displayed their affection by leaving a wide array of different objects, among them being lollipops — one of the everlasting symbols of the Flying Dutchman — jerseys, scarves, flags and flowers, among others, before the 'Gracies Johan' poster at the entrance to the Memorial Space. The also expressed their love with messages in the condolence books.

Just as on Saturday, the day started promptly at 10.00am with the first people having already lined up at the entrance at daybreak. It was another emotional day marking an event in which classical music was juxtaposed with the moments of respectful silence as people stopped before the picture of Cruyff located in the Camp Nou grandstand. The memorial will be open until Tuesday.

Sunday also saw visits from a plethora of personalities from the world of sport, including a notable visit by former Italian player and 1982 World Cup champion Giancarlo Antognoni, who led a visit by the Italian U-21 team to bid farewell to Cruyff. During the day Club directors Silvio Elías and Ramon Pont were present for institutional visits and signed the condolence book made available in the Camp Nou box. At noon, former president Enric Reyna said that "we can not forget that Cruyff was a pillar for helping Barça become the great Club we have today."

In the afternoon, FCB president Josep Maria Bartomeu visited the Memorial with his family and then with first Vice President Jordi Cardoner and Directors Javier Bordas, Joan Bladé and Pau Vilanova. The long queue of sports fans continued throughout the day, as throngs of supporters gave their condolences and made their offerings. Nobody wanted to miss the opportunity to say goodbye to one of the biggest legends in the history of FC Barcelona. The appreciation shown these days is a shining example of the importance of Cruyff, who gave so much to the Club. The memorial is open Monday from 10.00am to 7.00pm.

The outpouring of condolences for the loss of Johan Cruyff continued on into a third day on Monday, when Camp Nou opened its doors for another 13,348 people who came to the Cruyff Memorial to pay their respects to the Flying Dutchman. Adding to the 31,274 who came on Saturday and Sunday, the three-day total comes to an astounding 44,622. Tuesday will be the final day of the Memorial.

Beginning at 10.00am on Monday, multitudes came to the Camp Nou grandstand to pay tribute to Cruyff, leaving lollipops, shirts and scarves in front of the large 'Gràcies Johan' poster located at the entrance to the Memorial. The pages of the books of condolence continued to be filled up with emotional and heartfelt dedications to a hero, not only for FC Barcelona, but also for the entire sports world.

Personal emotions were on full display as the trickle of people — some with tears in their eyes — took their time at the Memorial on Monday.

More words of thanks

Once again various personalities from the world of sport came to say goodbye, including some of FC Barcelona's teams. In fact, the FC Barcelona B team, led by coach Gerard López, was the first team at the Memorial on Monday. The Under-19 team also came, led by their head coach Gabri, who said that "the history of the Club is very long, but the most recent history is marked by Johan." Also in attendance on Monday were FCB sections handball and roller hockey, as well as the women's football team led by head coach Xavi Llorens.

FCB Players and Coaches... by fcbarcelona

Current Real Sociedad and former Barça B coach Eusebio Sacristan — a Johan Cruyff disciple — was visibly moved. "He explained why things were the way they were," he said, referring to Cruyff's playing philosophy.

In the afternoon, around 5.00pm, the former presidents of FC Barcelona, Raimón Carrasco and Josep Lluís Nuñez visited the Cruyff Memorial.

Ex-Presidents Nuñez and Raimon Carrasco... by fcbarcelona

All eight living presidents of FC Barcelona have confirmed they will be present President Suñol Box at Camp Nou for the coming El Clásico on 2 April. Agustí Montal, Raimon Carrasco, Josep Lluís Núñez, Joan Gaspart, Enric Reyna, Joan Laporta, Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu will all be there for the special Johan Cruyff tribute before kick-off of the clash between Barça and Real Madrid.

These are the same presidents who signed a letter thanking the Dutchman for the unparalleled legacy he left behind at FC Barcelona. The letter, made public on Thursday, 24 March, said, "The arrival of Cruyff altered the history of Barça. He contributed decisively to a change of mentality. He got us to keep our heads up and to see that no opponent was invincible; that we could attain what we were aiming for. Cruyff was an icon who explained, better than anyone, that Barça is more than a club. He did it simply and based in reality, and always moving forward."

The FC Barcelona board met at an ordinary session today Tuesday at the Camp Nou, and publicly expressed their gratitude to the members, supporters and numerous other clubs and institutions from the sporting and other spheres that have come to the Memorial over the last few days to pay their last respects to Johan Cruyff.

The club shall continue in official mourning until the day of El Clásico on Saturday, when a number of actions have been planned to coincide with the visit of Real Madrid to the Camp Nou.

A mosaic of 90,000 cards shall bear the message ‘Gràcies Johan”, which shall be repeated on the shirts of the Barça players, where the world champions logo normally features. Both teams will enter the field with children wearing shirts with the same message, ‘Gràcies Johan’, as well as the names of the Cruyff and FC Barcelona Foundations on the back.

The match will also be attended by all of the living former presidents of the Catalan club, namely Agustí Montal, Raimon Carrasco, Josep Lluís Núñez, Joan Gaspart, Enric Reyna, Joan Laporta, Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu.

The game will also be preceded by a minute’s silence in honour of Johan Cruyff, including the projection of a video tribute to the great man’s career.

Other decisions

• The board passed the financial statement for the 2015/16 season, which shall be presented to the LFP on March 31. The positive balance is 5% higher than the amount budgeted for, and costs are in line with expectations.
• The board has approved the first Basketball FCBEscola, to be set up in the city of Barcelona, and which will be modelled on the already existing soccer schools. The exact details will be presented at an event next week.
• The board has nominated Sabine Paquer as its Compliance Officer; an autonomous and independent position whose responsibility will be to ensure that all club procedures comply with certain criteria, most particularly including transparency.
• Manel Mangado, until now club treasurer, has been named as the Club’s new internal auditor, whose role is to ensure compliance of all administrative and financial operations, answering directly to the general management of the club.

Follow live as Johan Cruyff's son, Jordi Cruyff, appears before the media in the Ricard Maxenchs Press Room at Camp Nou (in English from minute 7.26).

Jordi Cruyff, son of the late Johan, spoke about his gratitude for the messages of condolences received after the death of his father.

The former FC Barcelona player gave thanks to the media and the club as well as speaking of his father’s pride for his charity work.

Foundation agreement

"In recent months we shared a final hug. The apple of his eye was always the foundation, which has devoted much of his time and energy. It was a beautiful final agreement between the Johan Cruyff Foundation, the FC Barcelona and La Caixa Social Work. It was the last signing of his life and one of the most special.”

“His first priority was to work to the máximum for his children of the foundation, he was very proud of this agreement.”

Media

“Also, thanks to the media for respecting us in the last few days. 99% of the press have demonstrated respect which he deserved.”

Thanks to Barça

"Thank you to FC Barcelona for being respectful to all the wishes of the family. And thank you to Barça for all the events organised, which all had the blessing of the family."

"Johan is not only family. He is from the world of football. Thank you for the show of love."

“Barça, Ajax and the Dutch national team were his footballing loves and so it’s great that these three entities have shown such respect and support.”

FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu, vice-president of International and Institutional Relations Carles Vilarrubí and Jordi Moix, Commissioner of Espai Barça, were received by President of the Generalitat Carlos Puigdemont.

The meeting, which took place behind closed doors, had been pending ever since Puigdemont’s election as president of the Catalan government in January.

Carles Vilarrubí, vice-president of FC Barcelona:

"We are very pleased to have had this meeting. Among the various topics discussed, we found the President of the Government to be very keen in regard respect to the Espai Barça project, because this is a top-level project both for sport and for the city. President Bartomeu has also discussed this issue with the mayor and maintains very close contact with the government through commissioner Jordi Moix.

"We also spoke about the various agreements that Barça and the Generalitat maintain, especially the collaboration with the Ramon Llull Institute for the promotion and dissemination of the Catalan culture.

"Looking ahead to the match against Real Madrid on Saturday, President Carlos Puigdemont has confirmed his presence in the boxes of the Camp Nou."

Gràcies, Johan. That is the message that has been expressed by the 60,525 supporters that have come to the Camp Nou from Saturday to Tuesday, when the doors finally closed to the Johan Cruyff Memorial in honour of the legendary Barça player and manager who died last March 24 at the age of 68.

These have been emotionally charged days. From the moment that the news was announced, the sports world has been expressing its condolences, as well as its very highest regards for the great Dutchman. One of the earliest reactions was the open letter from all of the former presidents of FC Barcelona, published just hours after the Cruyff family announced the tragic news.

In this message, Agustí Montal, Raimon Carrasco, Josep Lluís Núñez, Joan Gaspart, Enric Reyna, Joan Laporta, Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu honoured Cruyff as “one of the greatest players and managers of all time” and recognised “the enormous professional and human mark that he has made on the club.” All of them will be attending the Clásico on Saturday to pay homage to the Flying Dutchman.

Social networks and the world press have also been packed with tributes, obituaries and special reports about the late, great number 14.  Authorities and personalities from all walks of life have come to the Camp Nou to pay their respects after learning of the news, as well as the members of his famous Dream Team of the nineties, and all of the professional sports team at FC Barcelona, and the different youth and women’s football teams. The occasion has also drawn representatives of some of FC Barcelona’s biggest rivals to come to the stadium and pay homage to someone whose influence stretched way beyond Barça, including the current Espanyol manager Constantin Galca and Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez.

Gràcies, Johan has been the unanimous message over the last few days. Without colours or flags, just eternal and global gratitude in memory of a magnificent footballer and a man who revolutionised football management. The man who created the Dream Team, a footballing masterpiece that was way ahead of its time, and whose greatest legacy was surely the way he put Barça right at the top of world football following his return to the club in 1988.

Johan has departed, but his memory shall live forever at the Camp Nou. Gràcies, Johan.

Lionel Messi and his FC Barcelona teammates came face-to-face with unique, playful animations of themselves for the first time as Beko unveiled its new Official Partner of Play campaign worldwide. Global stars Messi, Luis Suárez, Gerard Piqué, Arda Turan and Marc-André ter Stegen will feature in a new short film from Beko, Premium Partner of FC Barcelona, alongside their animations. Fellow teammates Neymar Jr., Andrés Iniesta and Ivan Rakitićwill also appear as animations across the campaign

The animated players will appear in advertising, in store, in-stadia, real-time social media for El Clásico (FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid on April 2^nd 2016), on digital channels and in the media over the coming months. The campaign will feature money-can’t-buy opportunities for fans, including the chance for the ultimate play at Camp Nou.

The Official partner of play is built on FC Barcelona’s skilful, attacking football played with freedom and enjoyment both on and off the pitch, a style of play that epitomises the true spirit of football. As a brand, Beko supports people in their busy lives by providing faster, more efficient home appliances, giving them more time and freedom to ‘play’ every day with the spirit of FC Barcelona. The Official partner of play sits within a new brand positioning – the Official partner of the everyday – which establishes Beko as a truly consumer centric brand, at the heart of everyday life showing how people can rely on Beko as their everyday partner.

"Barça has a tradition of playing with a smile"

Barça's commercial director, Francesco Calvo, said, "“We are delighted to work with our partners at Beko for the launch of this new campaign around the world. FC Barcelona has a tradition of playing with a smile, a fun style of attacking football and winning games with sublime moments of skill, so we think that this new campaign by Beko is very fitting for the club."

Tülin Karabuk, CMO at Beko Global, said: “As FC Barcelona personifies the spirit of play and freedom, the Official partner of play is the perfect message for us to communicate our values to millions of fans around the world. We want to put a smile on their faces and engage with them about the sport they love. Beko knows that every day there are people who need solutions for their busy and often unplanned lives. Therefore, we ensure all of our products are designed with our consumers’ everyday needs in mind to give them more time to play.”

Camp Nou’s goodbye to Johan Cruyff, coinciding with the visit of Real Madrid for the Clásico in the league, saw an historic moment in the President Suñol Box at the stadium where the eight living FC Barcelona presidents came together to pay to tribute to the legendary former player and coach. Agustí Montal, Raimon Carrasco, Josep Lluís Núñez, Joan Gaspart, Enric Reyna, Joan Laporta, Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu posed together for a never seen before photograph before signing the book of condolences and the open letter to Johan Cruyff that the Club published on 24 March, the day on which the Dutchman passed away at the age of 68.

“Gràcies Johan” (Thanks Johan) was the message that each FC Barcelona president wanted to convey to the man who changed the Club’s history both as a player and as a coach, creating the basis for team’s style of play and success which has made Barça a reference point the world over.

Jordi Cruyff, the Dutchman’s son and former Barça player, was present also, representing the Cruyff family who will received the 20 condolence books that were signed by all the people who came to visit the Memorial at Camp Nou between 25 and 29 March.

The Indian Ambassador to Spain, Vikram Misri, joined by his commercial representative, Saravanan Balasubramanian, and the Consul General of India in Barcelona, Luis Valeriano González, paid a visit to the Camp Nou on Wednesday. They were received by FC Barcelona’s vice-president for International and Institutional Relations, Carles Vilarrubí.

After an official reception in the presidential box in the stadium, the guests were shown around the club premises. They began by visiting the first team changing room, and then walked out of the players’ tunnel onto the pitch, where several photographs were taken to commemorate the occasion. It was at this moment that the ambassador was presented with a first team football shirt. The party then moved on to the FC Barcelona Museum.

During the encounter, vice-president Vilarrubí was able to explain some of the reasons why FCB is considered More than a Club and told the ambassador about the new plans to restructure the Camp Nou. Meanwhile, Vikram Misri highlighted the popularity of FC Barcelona and its players in India.

The ambassador also said some words in memory of Johan Cruyff and expressed his sympathy on the loss of one of the most important figures in Barça history.

India has more than 3,350,000 Barça fans on Facebook, the fifth highest following on that social network. It also has the FC Barcelona Fan Club India, which has 30 members. In April 2013, in collaboration with its partner Conscient Football, the club also opened the FCBEscola Delhi NCR, where approximately 600 boys and girls are currently learning at three different centres: Gurgaon, IOS Maidan and Saket. Back in 2011, FCBEscola ran its first activities in the country in the form of the first series of FCBCamps.

Statement by Carles Vilarrubí, FC Barcelona vice-president of International and Institutional Relations

 “India is a large country, and one with an amazing culture that has a huge influence on our world. The fact that he has such an interest in FC Barcelona and that he has come to visit us in order to get to know us better is very important for us, so that we can project the image of Barça and of football in India. The fact that we have achieved such sporting excellence and such great results mean that countries like this, when they show an interest in the football world, come to Barcelona and to the Camp Nou”

Statement by Vikram Misri, Indian Ambassador to Spain

"I am delighted to visit the Camp Nou, the home of FC Barcelona, which is one of the greatest clubs in football history. Barça is very popular India and its conquests are legendary. Also, football is a very fast-growing sport and I know Barça is in some way already present in our country.”