La Liga champions Barcelona have taken a step further with the plans for a Johan Cruyff Stadium.
The club president Josep Maria Bartomeu presented the plans of the stadium with Sant Joan Despi council. The event was just outside the city of Barcelona at the MerceRodoreda Cultural Centre. The commissioner for the EspaiBarcaJordiMoix, and the Mayor Antoni Poveda joined Bartomeu in presenting the plans to the public.
The first brick for the Johan Cruyff Stadium could be laid this year while the whole project can be rounded off in the 2018/19 season with planning permissions being processed, according to the Spanish club.
“The idea would be to lay the first brick in July. We have been working on this project for the last seven years. The name ‘Minestadi’ will no longer be used and from now on it will be the Johan Cruyff Stadium,” Moix said during the ceremony.
Bartomeu said the club was proud that the project was named Johan Cruyff as it is “recognition for his figure and all that he brought to Barca as a player and as a coach.” The club chief added that the new stadium would be where Barca B, the youth team and women team would be domiciled. There are also rumours that there would soon be space within the grounds for a new Gala casino, which would be another money-spinner for Barca.
Johan Cruyff is a Barca legend who promoted the concept of using home grown players and developing a style of play that is now famous in the world of football. The stadium currently next to Camp Nou will relocate to CiutatEsportiva in Sant Joan Despi almost nine kilometres away. The stadium will be able to host 6,000 fans with modern facilities when completed.