FC Barcelona President: “La Masia is a school for values”

Barcelona (ACN).- Shortly before a quarter to nine, the President of the Catalan Government, Artur Mas, the President of FC Barcelona Sandro Rosell, first team’s manager, Pep Guardiola, captain Carles Puyol, and the two youngest residents, Alejandro Viedman and ‘Bobby’ Alekanyue, symbolically pressed a ball to open the Oriol Tort Training Centre, the new Masia. They all participated in the spectacular inauguration ceremony of the new facilities, which has an impressive façade with 350,500 led lights. La Masia is FC Barcelona training school, the place were footballers such as Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, Piqué, Puyol, or Pep Guardiola were raised and trained since their early years.

This was just the start of a well attended and emotional event in which the new technology 350,500 LED lights in the façade projected images that linked the experience and recognition of the protagonists.

Transferring the atmosphere of the old Masia

Barça’s President Sandro Rosell expressed his satisfaction at the finalisation of a long project, saying that the building is “modern and functional … I have no doubt that we shall bring the warmth of the traditional Catalan Masia here”. A ‘masia’ is the traditional Catalan country house, combining a residence building with farm facilities. In 1979, FC Barcelona opened its football school in an old ‘masia’ next to the Camp Nou, and hence the name of Barça’s football school, which associates to the idea of tradition and growing talent.

More than a training centre

Sandro Rosell thanked everybody that has played a part in making the Masia part of what FC Barcelona symbolises, and had a special mention for the parents of the footballers that “entrust us with their children.” But he added that “here we have the finest farmers, led by Carles Folguera”. Rosell also said that “La Masia is much more than a residence for young sportspeople. It a school that teaches values”.

A project that carries “the essence and roots”

The President of the Catalan Government, Artur Mas, also had a few words for the people that attended the event. “Barça has shown that a project like La Masia carries the essence and roots of the long history of the club, a city and a country, a club that is also the best in the world” said Artur Mas.

Iniesta, the voice of experience

Andrés Iniesta, one of Barça’s first team players that once lived at the old Masia, spoke about what it was like to live there. “I know that my family educated me and I was trained here. There is no better place to learn than at la Masia”.

Guillermo Amor, director of youth football, and who is also a former resident of La Masia was also involved in the ceremony, as was a choir from the Orfeó Català, who sung the Barça anthem, actor Lluís Soler and musician Lautaro Roses, who performed ‘Viatge a Itaca’.

 

THE DETAIL

Guided tour of facilities

The institutional and sporting guests were shown all around the new Masia, Oriol Tort Training Centre. Led by the director of la Masia, Carles Folguera, and the presidents of the Generalitat Artur Mas and of FC Barcelona Sandro Rosell they got to see where the future Barça stars will be living.