Over 350 youngsters in attendance at the traditional annual event taking place at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper
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."