By far Europe's biggest club with a 120,000 thousand capacity stadium, Barcelona are highly revered in the footballing world and across its Catalan region, the beautiful game has religious status. Nigeria has generally had a good relationship with Barcelona as in the past, former Super Eagles Emmanuel Ammunike and Gbenga Okunowo have featured for the club.
This week, La Liga officials visited Abuja where they signed an agreement with the NPFL, which they hope will bring the football leagues of Nigerian and Spain closer together. According to La Liga president Javier Tebas, as part of this deal, Barcelona could play some friendly matches in Nigeria.
Mr Tebas said: “We are here today to open a La Liga Office in Nigeria in furtherance of that understanding. We have made good progress in the three months of the understanding signed between us and Nigeria football league and in a few weeks, an All-Star team from Nigeria will tour La Liga and we are taking care of the travel and accommodation of 40 members of the team.
“During this tour, the team will play three matches in Spain and will be watched by the directors of top La Liga clubs who make decisions and this may result in some Nigeria League players being invited to the clubs. We also will be sending experts to interact with NPFL club managers and share knowledge and also send coaches to work at the grassroots academies for development of youth football."
He added that La Liga clubs would also visit Nigeria to play friendly matches, including Barcelona. According to Mr Tebas, by the time the first five years of the partnership ends, La Liga and the NPFL will be bigger.
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