The final time Barcelona followers sat within the stands of the Nou Camp, they’d simply watched an Ansu Fati brace put the icing on the cake of a home double-winning season.
Within the 894 days since, their membership have ditched their once-rising star Fati and changed him with a brand new hope – Lamine Yamal. They’ve additionally added one other three trophies to the cupboard and are available tantalisingly near the Champions League ultimate final season.
But their iconic stadium, which throughout that point has been topic to a £1.25billion refurbishment, remained shrouded by cranes as 23,000 followers arrived at present to look at the membership’s stars in an open coaching session.
The seemingly unfinished nature of the sector – which was initially because of be reopened final November – didn’t dampen the thrill of the supporters, who rapidly offered the occasion out.
And there was emotion among the many gamers and coaches too, most of whom have spent of nearly all of their time with the LaLiga holders in makeshift grounds throughout town.
In actual fact, it was a primary Nou Camp expertise for head coach Hansi Flick, in addition to homegrown gamers similar to Dani Olmo and Pau Cubarsi. In the meantime new additions similar to Marcus Rashford have visited with opposing groups – however not for Barca.
Barcelona have swung open the doorways of the Nou Camp for the primary time in 894 days
23,000 followers have descended on the stadium to look at the celebrities in an open coaching session
Marcus Rashford has entered the enduring enviornment for the primary time as a Barcelona participant
The session at present served as a trial-run for upcoming aggressive fixtures, although the membership have to attend for 2 licences that are anticipated earlier than the tip of the 12 months.
The primary license would enable them to carry 45,000 spectators. The second would enable the stadium to be totally operational.
Photographs from the stadium this morning present swathes of followers descending on the stadium, a lot of them adorning Yamal merchandise whereas basking within the solar. They have been located within the stadium’s Important Stand and Gol Sud areas.
Followers roared when Yamal took the pitch, cheering for his or her star who made his debut on the Nou Camp earlier than the renovations, in opposition to Actual Betis aged simply 15.
Barcelona’s president Joan Laporta was additionally in attendance, swarmed by followers for autographs earlier than serenading the sector with the membership’s 50-year-old anthem, Cant del Barca.
Throughout the session, Yamal was noticed deep in dialog with Flick, in addition to the teaching employees and his teammates, who all stood in entrance of the principle stand earlier than coaching to take the applause of the group.
In a press release, the membership hailed the coaching session as ‘very particular’ and stated it ‘served as a necessary operational take a look at to make sure the whole lot is prepared for the official return’.
They added: ‘The stadiums doorways opened at 9.30am, and a lot of the followers, a lot of whom has taken the morning off work, welcomed all of the gamers, who arrived already dressed from the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper (coaching floor).
Joan Garcia makes a diving save in entrance of hundreds of excited spectators on the Nou Camp
Followers in membership merchandise have arrived to look at the gamers as they bask within the Barcelona solar
The stadium redevelopment has been hit by quite a few delays and issues since works started
Yamal sits with Fermin Lopez, who entered the Nou Camp for the primary time to coach at present
‘Even the injured gamers didn’t need to miss such a symbolic second. The entire squad took to the pitch collectively for a bunch picture to commemorate the event earlier than the session started.’
The return of followers comes simply two days after Barcelona information shops reported that the stadium was being investigated by public well being authorities following a employee reportedly being recognized with tuberculosis.
It was the newest blow to the redevelopment, which has been hit by quite a few delays and issues over the past two-and-a-half years.
After the membership missed their preliminary plan to return final November, additional deadlines of February and Might this 12 months additionally slipped. Their plan to stage the Joan Gamper Trophy on the Nou Camp in August was additionally deserted.
Additional delays occurred with the membership having did not safe the required licences from town council.
Barcelona have largely performed on the Olympic Stadium within the metropolis amid the delays, whereas a match in opposition to Valencia passed off on the diminutive Estadi Johan Cruyff, which holds simply 6,000 followers.
The works to the stadium are aimed toward rising capability to 105,000 whereas including new company amenities and a roof.
Till building is full, the Nou Camp will function at a decreased capability of round 50,000 to 60,000.
Followers are hopeful they’ll make a everlasting return to the stadium sooner fairly than later
Yamal and his team-mates have been met with an adoring applause by the adoring Barca followers
The membership hailed the session as ‘very particular’ and stated it ‘served as a necessary operational take a look at’
Protests have been additionally held outdoors the stadium on Tuesday by the employees union, the Confederation Syndicate of Labour Commissions.
The group had alleged building corporations concerned within the challenge have fired 50 employees who wouldn’t have ‘authorized papers’ and ‘intend to ship them again to their nation with none ensures.’
‘They have been working twelve hours a day, seven days every week, for over a 12 months in some instances,’ Carlos del Barrio, head of Union Motion for CCOO del Habitat in Catalonia, advised Spanish information company EFE.
Barcelona has acknowledged that it ‘maintains fixed collaboration with Limak [the Turkish construction company] to ensure absolute respect for labor rights and compliance with present laws in all phases of the challenge.’
