MESSI MAGIC
This summer, watch Barca in your backyard
Biju Babu Cyriac TNN
Bangalore: Lionel Messi could be making his second visit to India in less than a year, this time in the colours FC Barcelona, if the plans of the Indian promoters go according to script.
After he led Argentina against Venezuela in Kolkata last September, Messi and his Barca mates could end up playing in India this May-June. This comes close on the heels of Bayern Munich’s visit to the capital earlier this week. Besides Barca, the organizers are also looking to rope in two more big clubs to play exhibition matches with Mumbai, Bangalore and Kochi as the likely venues.
A final decision on the champions club’s trip is likely to be out in a week’s time with talks between an Indian sports management firm and Spanish giants in the final stages. The matches are being planned to be held after the Champions League final in Munich on May 19. The organizers are also keen to avoid a clash with the money spinning IPL, which has scheduled its final on May 27 in Chennai. Barca keen on India trip
Kanteerava Stadium One Of The Venues
Bangalore: Officials at Barcelona are interested in making a trip to India this summer, says one of the key negotiators, Lucas Lugo, CEO of We are Futbol, a consulting group based in Buenos Aires.
It was Lugo’s firm that played a key role in getting the Argentina national team to Kolkata last September. “So far Barcelona have had several offers but rejected many of them,” Lugo told TOI from Buenos Aires. “But they are keen to tour India this summer. We started negotiations six months back and we expect to get a final word in a week’s time or so. Since it is a big club, they have to get approvals from several boards. The chances are good,” he added.
Asked whether Barcelona are now looking at tapping the Indian market after entering China through a deal with Tencent, China’s leading internet service provider, Lugo replied in the affirmative.
“The Indian market is big and Barcelona has an eye on its immense potential. We know that cricket is big in India but once you get the football culture in there will be a huge interest,” Lugo said.
One of the promoters of Kshatriya Sports Management, the event management firm liaising with Lugo, said:
“We have got 100% interest from FC Barcelona in touring India during this summer. The other clubs who have been approved and showed a positive are Paris Saint-Germain FC Rangers (Scotland) and Juventus. We are hoping to conduct the matches at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. There is good interest among European clubs to join hands with Indian Football as the market is attractive and offers good returns on any strategic investment,” the promoter added.
It is learnt that while the organizers have got the green signal from the Kerala Football Association and Vijay Patil, owner of the multi-disciplinary DY Patil stadium, has offered full support to the proposed tour. The Karnataka State Football Association is expected to take a final decision on their support by next week.
“If the Barca deal works out, plans are also afoot to conduct an U-19 tournament. This tournament, to be hosted mainly in Kerala with some matches in Bangalore, will be a curtain raiser for Barcelona’s trip,” the promoter said.
Besides We are Futbol, Kshatriya has got strategic tieups with big players including with real estate firm Frontier Group, Endemol Sport (an international TV production company based in Netherlands) and Ticketable (an online ticketing company).
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