Barca get a rousing reception

Spain’s La Liga champions Barcelona, led by four-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, touched down in Bangkok yesterday amid a rapturous reception from local fans.

Barca made an eagerly awaited return to the country for the first time since 2002 for tomorrow’s exhibition match against Thailand’s under-23 side preparing for the Burma-hosted SEA Games later this year. The game has been sold out, officials announced yesterday.

The visit by the four-time European champions is a fitting end to an unprecedented football fiesta in which the country had a unique opportunity to host Europe’s four most famous clubs in a span of less than a month.

The Spaniards arrived in the capital after making a stopover in Israel at the weekend to promote peace in the Middle East. The Catalan club’s arrival at Don Mueang Airport was delayed by two hours from the originally scheduled time, but more than 500 fans remained in good spirits to welcome their favourite players.

“I’m really excited by the prospect of meeting the players I have been watching on TV for years. I can’t miss this opportunity,” said 32-year-old fan Pamorn Kunnane, who has been following the Spanish club from his boyhood. 

Barca’s fixture at Rajamangala National Stadium has a higher average ticket price than those of the three English Premier League clubs, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool, with top seats priced at Bt4,500. However, Pamorn was more than happy to pay for a chance to see the club’s multi-million stars likes Messi or new marquee signing Neymar.

“I got a Bt2,000 ticket. It’s a once-in-a lifetime experience. The amount I paid can’t compare with the opportunity to see the team with a combined valuation of several billion baht. And, I don’t think I would have a chance to see them in Spain.”

A group of six female fans from the club’s Facebook fanpage, fcbarcelonathailandfanclub, who drew attention from the waiting media by dressing in Barca colours, were equally enthusiastic about meeting their heroes. 

One of them brought a sign with her that read “Fabregas Support You Forever”.

“I feel really excited to see my idol, Messi. He’s a nice guy on and off the pitch. But, indeed, a chance to see anyone of the Barca team will do for me today,” 24-year-old fan Ploypailin Li-ang, a representative of her group, who made a flashing sign normally seen in a pop concert for the name of Messi. 

There were many other signs seen among a big group of fans, with one in Spanish that read “Bienvenidos a Tailandia”, which means “Welcome to Thailand”.

With the sound of Thai tom-tom drums signalling the arrival of Barca players, fans burst into loud cheers to greet the visiting players, with the 26-year-old Messi emerging out of a sliding door at the Private Jet Terminal building right after Barca new coach Gerardo Martino.

Despite being among a bunch of players making their way to the waiting coach, Brazilian young forward Neymar, who just linked up with his new team-mates after helping Brazil win the Confederations Cup last month, drew a roar from the cheering crowd.

Spanish international Andres Iniesta, one of the club’s most popular players, told media at the team hotel Okura Prestige that the team is ready for the defence of the La Liga title.

“The team has been training a lot. We had a camp for a month. I think the team is ready for the new season,” said the diminutive midfielder.

Asked about the Catalans’ search for a central defender and speculation over Cesc Fabregas’ future at the club, former Manchester United player Gerard Pique replied: “Maybe Barca needs special players all the time but it’s not easy to find in the market. Cesc is quite a special player. He is a good player. [He has received offers] from other clubs. He wants to stay with the club. I’m sure he will stay on.”

Today, Neymar is due to introduce Nike Hypervenom boots at True Coffee, Siam Square, at 10am, while two Barca players, whose names have not been identified, will open a clinic at the team hotel at 11am as part of a Unicef activity.

A team representative will also attend a clinic, which is part of the “Confidence to be No 1” project by Head and Shoulders, for underprivileged children at the Human Development Foundation Mercy Centre in Klong Toei at 1.30pm.

The team then will have an open training session at Rajamangala Stadium from 7pm.