FC Barcelona has decided to shut down all its academies in India, 14 years after starting operations with an aim to train Indian kids in their famed ‘La Masia’ (youth academy) style.
FC Barcelona did not provide any official reason for the closure. All its academies in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Pune will cease to exist from July 1.
“FC Barcelona have informed the families involved in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Pune that it will cease to operate Barca Academies from 1 July 2024,” the club said in a statement which it uploaded on its website.
“Barcelona’s presence in India began in 2010 and since then thousands of youngsters have learned to play football in the Barca style and have imbibed the club’s values.
“Furthermore, India was the venue for two Barca Academy APAC tournaments in 2019 and 2020 and the academies have been present in the 11 editions of the Barca Academy World Cup held in Barcelona during Easter Week,” the club added.
In the statement, FC Barcelona expressed gratitude to all the families for their trust in the project over the years, as well as to all the coaches, local staff, and Conscient Football, the club’s India partner in this venture.
Barca Academy is the flagship FC Barcelona school aimed at boys and girls between 4 and 17 years of age and its main objective is to provide a comprehensive training environment for them.
PTI
