Barcelona Will Visit in the Summer

There was some talk that Barcelona wouldn’t make the trek across the pond to the United States, since they have to go through the group stage and weren’t guaranteed a place in the Champions League, but the money is just too good, and they want to grow their brand in the U.S.

The ‘passing carousel’ as Alex Ferguson called Barcelona, will indeed tour the U.S. this summer. Let’s hope with the full squad, the boy wonders of Messi, Bojan, and Dos Santos. However, with Euro 2008 this summer as well, perhaps a number of players will be missing, Spanish players like Iniesta and Xavi, and then the once glorious trio of Deco, Eto’o, and Ronaldinho are all on the way out it looks like.

MLS’ marketing arm, Soccer United Marketing sealed a deal with Barcelona, a five-year agreement with the MLS for six games over the next five years. That doesn’t seem like too many games, but at least they’re coming over here.

The dates of the tour likely will depend on dates for the third round of European Champions League qualifying, in which Barcelona must compete to reach the group stage.

Soriano said Barcelona’s marketing research shows the club has 50 million fans in Europe and another 10 million in the United States. He said the team wants to service and grow that 10 million by bringing the club to them.

The 2008 tour will be Barcelona’s third visit to the United States in six years, starting with the Champions World Series in 2003, with games against Juventus, AC Milan and Manchester United.

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