La Liga club FC Barcelona has decided to close its football academies in India. The club started its academies in India 14 years ago, intending to impart training to children in the country in their famed ‘La Masia (youth academy)’ style. Additionally, Barcelona has earlier organized two Barça Academy APAC tournaments in India, in 2019 and 2020.
However, Barcelona has yet to provide an official reason for the shutdown. The club said in an official statement that its academies in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Pune will cease operations starting July 1st. The club also expressed gratitude to all the families for their deep-rooted trust in the academy, as well as to the coaches, staff, and Conscient Football, the club’s partner in India.
“FC Barcelona’s presence in India began back in 2010, and since then, thousands of youngsters have learned to play football in the Barça style and with the Club’s values. Furthermore, India was the venue for two Barça Academy APAC tournaments in 2019 and 2020, and the academies have been ever-present in the 11 editions of the Barça Academy World Cup held in Barcelona during Easter Week,” the club statement read.
FC Barcelona have informed the families involved in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Pune will cease to operate as Barça Academies from 1 July 2024.
FC Barcelona thanks the families for the support in their project
“Barça would like to thank the families for the confidence shown in the project over the years as well as all the coaches, staff, and Conscient Football, a unit of Conscient Sports, the Club’s partner in India for the Barça Academies over all these years,” the club added.
It is worth noting that FC Barcelona’s former stars, Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, and Gerard Pique, all attained their iconic status after receiving training at the Barca Academy. Barca’s Academy in India represented the most extensive grassroots football training in the country over the years. The club has training centers in Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Pune, conducting programs, camps, leagues, tournaments, and exposure trips.
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