FC Barcelona regrets the loss of Nelson Mandela

FC Barcelona has regretted the loss of Nelson Mandela, who played such a prominent role in the fight against Apartheid, and went on to become the first black president of South Africa. 

Mandela died last night in Johannesburg at the age of 95, and in the game against Cartagena, the Barça players will be wearing black armbands in memory of one of the greatest public figures of our time, and who set such a wonderful example not only with his leadership, but also with his compassion and forgiveness. More about FC Barcelona Soccer camps in Ontario.

In the summer of 2007, when FC Barcelona were in South Africa for a friendly with the Mamelodi Sundowns, a club delegation made up of members of the board and several players visited Mandela at the headquarters of the Johannesburg based foundation that carries his name.

The president of FC Barcelona, Sandro Rosell, and several players have expressed their sorrow in messages lamenting the loss of the charismatic African leader.

Jordi Alba, Alves and Piqué are possible defenders for FIFA FIFPro World XI

FC Barcelona’s Jordi Alba, Dani Alves and Gerard Piqué are among the candidates to be in the back four of the FIFA FIFPro World XI. The 20 candidates for this position were announced today Wednesday following votes from their colleagues around the world. More about FC Barceona Winter Soccer Camps.

The four players that get the most votes will be included in the FIFA FIFPro World XI, which will be announced at the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala in Zurich next January.

Gerard Piqué and Dani Alves both featured in last season’s edition of the FIFA FIFPro World XI.

FC Barcelona already has four potential members of the XI, for in addition to Alves, Alba and Piqué, last Monday Víctor Valdés was named among the four candidate goalkeepers. On Friday, December 6th, the names of the 15 midfielders will be revealed, and the 15 strikers will be announced next Monday.

FC Barcelona, winner of National Sport Prizes award

FC Barcelona received the Copa Stadium Award at an event held this Monday, which is given to an organisation or person for special contributions during the year in promoting and encouraging sport. 

The Club President Sandro Rosell, accompanied by vice-president Carles Vilarrubí and board members Eduard Coll and Manel Arroyo, picked up the award  –relating to work done in 2012- at a ceremony held in the Palacio del Prado in Madrid and presided over by the Spanish Royal Family.

This is the fifth time that FC Barcelona has won the Copa Stadium, having previously been awarded the prize in 1925, 1941, 1957 and 1997. The award is the oldest sporting prize in Spain.

The National Prizes are awarded every year by Spain’s Sport Board and chosen by a jury made up of representatives of that body and the Spanish Olympic Committee, as well as sporting federations, autonomous regions, local councils, media and sports people. Read more about FC Barcelona Soccer Camps in Toronto.

Jordi Alba returns to training

The FC Barcelona first team players trained on Tuesday morning at the Ciutat Esportiva. 

The main talking point of the session was the return to group training of Jordi Alba. Read more FC Barcelona Winter Soccer Camp in Toronto.

The left back has been recovering from a left leg injury suffered during training on 10th October.  This was the first training session following the defeat away to Athletic Club and also the first to prepare for Friday’s Cup clash with Cartagena.

The senior players were joined by Patric and Adama from the reserves.

Meanwhile, Andrés Iniesta was unable to take part in the session due to a sore hamstring in his left leg.

FC Barcelona women's team make history

FC Barcelona’s women’s team continue blaze their way into the history books. This is the first time that a team from the Spanish league has made it this far in the Champions League.

The team managed by Xavi Llorens came into the match in Zurich with qualification to the quarter-finals nearly secured. On Sunday, Barça defeated their Swiss rivals by 3-0 at the Miniestadi. This Wednesday, knowing that qualification was close, Barça were calm even though they conceded the first goal of the match.

Goals from Ruth, Corredera and Jelena were enough to overturn Zürich Fauen’s opener and push the tie beyond the Swiss team’s reach. The draw for the next phase of the competition will take place on November 21, and Champions League play will resume in March. Read more about youth soccer camps.

FC Barcelona is the first team in Spanish football to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League, a truly historic feat.

Four FCB Escola managers are in Antalya to train Turkish children in FC Barcelona's training methodology

In cooperation with FC Barcelona’s official partner AVEA – a Turkish telecommunications company – FCB Escola Avea Camp officially opened up this Thursday in Turkey. 

The city chosen to host the Campus is Antalya, in the south of the country. Over 100 players from around the Turkey converged to participate in the camp. In addition, many of the participants are orphans from local orphanages thanks to AVEA’s Social Corporate Responsibility programme and FC Barcelona’s commitment to social responsibility. Read more about FCB Escola.

Four FCB Escola managers made the trip to Turkey in order to teach FC Barcelona’s training methodology to the participants.

Throughout the week, the players have shown a very high level of play, which allows them all to enjoy football. The participants train for three and a half hours a day, where Barça’s tactical and technical concepts are taught. Values like respect and teamwork are always part of the training regiment. 

14 FC Barcelona players, present in the team training

After being given permission to miss Wednesday's training session, Adriano was back under Tata Martino's orders this morning as Barça's denuded first team squad worked out at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. 

Alongside the 8 available first team players -Pinto, Oier, Puyol, Montoya, Adriano, Xavi, Cuenca and Tello,  4 Barça B youngsters, Patric, Masip, Denis Suárez and Ilie, and 2 Youth A players, Adama and Sanabria also took part. Read more about FCBescola camp.

Cesc Fàbregas and Gerard Piqué, worked apart from the rest of the group on the training ground, whislt Leo Messi, Jordi Alba and Ibrahim Afellay were doing phsyio as part of their recovery programmes.