La Masia, the building that stands in the shadow of Camp Nou and which has housed numerous players as they moved up through the ranks of Barça, is permanently closing. With the completion of new buildings for the youth players in Sant Joan Despi, part of the Ciutat Esportiva, the club held their final event at the old La Masia last night, a celebratory barbeque marking the end of a season, and the beginning of a new era.
The last act of a most glorious year, before moving to Sant Joan Despi, was the traditional barbecue that marks the end of the season for the football players in the youth system.
The future of Barça can be found in La Masia, through the work of talent scouts, educators and coaches, through maintaining a system that combines individual talents and a playing style unique in the world, through a residence-school that yesterday closed its doors forever with a final act filled with symbolism and the Barcelona spirit.
The barbecue dinner that traditionally closes the season was held in the gardens of La Masia, where president Sandro Rosell, in a long and profound speech, recalled the enormous responsibility of maintaining the excellence of this Barça, which is placed on his shoulders, and reminded the young players listening that a major effort is required of them to wear the Barça shirt someday.
The president congratulated them for the achievements of this season, that have been many and may still increase with the Copa del Rey title that Juvenil A will most likely contest against Espanyol, but he insisted that only the best will make it, not only for their footballing ability but because they will have proved themselves worthy of wearing the first team shirt of Barça.
“This has been an impossible season to improve upon. It is evident Barça wants the best players but we also want the best people, you have to be very humble and appreciate that being part of Barça is a privilege.”
The barbecue started at 20:00 with a large representation from the board of directors headed by the president, sports vice president Josep Maria Bartomeu and the executive of formative football, Jordi Mestre. Also attending were the vice president of the social area , Jordi Cardoner, and executives Eduard Coll, Jordi Moix and Jordi Monés. Leader of the Penyes section, Pau Vilanova, and cultural advisor, Josep Maria Prat, were also at the event.
The whole football section of the club took part in the final dinner at La Masia, with Andoni Zubizarreta and Tito Vilanova representing the first team, accompanied by Guillermo Amor, Carles Folguera, the director of La Masia that from next season will have a building in Sant Joan Despi, and the extensive structure of technical managers and coaches, as well as representation of delegates from all the teams.
FC Barcelona’s official site also covered the event. The following are some excerpts from their report.
Players, coaches, assistants, managers and all involved in training the youth players experienced the final supper that marks the traditional end of the current season for the youngsters at La Masia.
Next season the event, which brought together the youth and women’s football teams will be held in the new ‘La Masia’ located in the Ciudad Deportiva Joan Gamper.
The speech of president Sandro Rosell centered on the emotional factor of a dinner that “will be the last official act at this Masia.”
This involves a lot of mixed feelings: “On the one hand I am sad because next year we will not be in a place that has given us so much, from where so many players have started, but on the other hand we have to look ahead and the new Masia will be a lot more modern and functional and the change will be good for all.”
Rosell also acknowledged the success of so many of the club’s teams this season: “In all areas, it will prove very difficult to improve. Not just the football and professional sections who have won almost everything, you have had a lot of success in all competitions.”
Sandro Rosell delivered a plaque to Francis Pérez, the second coach of Alevín C and the technicians responsible for the FCB Escola, Carlos Bueno and Albert Benaiges. The three leave the club this season to pursue new professional challenges.
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