F.C. Barcelona Comes to Seoul in July

Get ready for the “New goal maker of Brazil,” Ronaldinho, 24, “Rising Star of Argentina,” Javier Sabiola, 23, “Black Pearl of Netherlands,” Patrick Kluibert, 28, and “Most popular players of Spain,” Luis Enrique, 34, and Puyol, 26.

“Power Corps of Spain” Barcelona, superstars of the soccer world, will play against the best K league team at the Suwon World-Cup Stadium on July 29.

Vice-president of Media Marketing, Marc Ingla, and technical department executive Tsiki Beguiristan had a press meeting at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul on April 22 and stated, “We will bring our best members and play against Korea’s best team.” Game promoters SM Sports, said that final contract negotiations set Barcelona’s rate at 800,000 Euro (approximately 1.1 billion won) and a portion of an air fare and accommodation expenses.

K-league’s first-place team will take on Barcelona for the pride of Korean soccer. The second possible slot is expected to go to Suwon Samsung, who has established a sisterhood with Barcelona. SM Sports president Kim Joong-seok stated, “Barcelona is the most prestigious team among many teams that have visited Korea. It is specified in the contract that all the star players have to join the game.”

Barcelona’s upcoming game constitutes part of the tour to Korea, China and Japan. Barcelona will play in China on July 26 and Korea on July 29, as well as facing the Kashima Antlers on August 1 and Jubilo Iwata on August 3.

In the 105-year history of the team, Barcelona has won the Primera Liga of Spain sixteen times, taken the Spain Cup 24 times and won the 1992 Europe Champion’s League championship trophy, rendering themselves the most prestigious team in Spain’s Real Madrid. They are hold third place with 18 wins, nine draws, and six losses in 2003-04 Primera Liga, and Ronaldinho holds seventh place in score ranking with 13 goals while Sabiola holds co-tenth place with 11 goals. Ingla promised, “I know that 20 million fans support Barcelona in the Asia region. I will show these fans what the soccer is.”

Soon-Il Kwon Sung-Kyu Kim stt77@donga.com kimsk@donga.com