Hopeful of Barcelona playing in India before Messi retires: club's director general

Jordi Camps, FC Barcelona's Asia Pacific director general, expressed optimism that India will be part of the Catalan club's preseason plans before its talisman Lionel Messi brings the curtains down on his glorious career.

He also said it's a matter of time before an Indian plays in Spanish top-flight.

La Liga club Girona FC was in India this summer to play in an exhibition tournament in Kochi.

Asked about Barcelona's prospects of playing in India, which is one of its strategic markets, the club official sounded positive.

"Of course as I said India is one of the top players in the markets and for sure our team in Barcelona and Hong Kong is working to have the opportunity or bring the opportunity to the India fans, to watch our players live and we are working on it," Camps said.

He added, "I don't know if it will happen the next year or the following year or the year after that but we will have them here for sure. We had the legends in India two months ago and we have the schools so little by little we are coming but I hope we have Messi here before he ends his career."
"That's why we need to be here in advance and that's why we launched our economies eight years ago so we are not new in the market and we are supporting the Indian football atmosphere, environment and industry to get to this target."