site.btaBulgarian PM, FC Barcelona Delegation Discuss Youth Football Cooperation

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev met with a delegation from FC Barcelona and its international partners, the Council of Ministers said in a press release on Monday.

The meeting was organized by the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade. It was also attended by Youth and Sports Minister Encho Keryazov, Innovation and Digital Transformation Minister Ivan Vasilev, and Deputy Interior Minister Kaloyan Miltenov.

Representatives of FC Barcelona voiced their willingness to cooperate with Bulgaria in developing youth football through the exchange of expertise, best practices and training methodologies. They also offered support in establishing a sustainable system for identifying, developing and preparing the country's most promising young football talents.

Radev said the government remained committed to supporting youth sports and investing in modern sports infrastructure. He stressed that sport, education and an active lifestyle should provide more opportunities for young people and contribute to their personal development.

The PM underscored that the success of Spain's youth football academies was reflected in the achievements of their national team. As an example, he pointed to Spain's run to the FIFA World Cup semi-finals, as well as the fact that eight players in the Spanish squad currently represent FC Barcelona.

The participants also discussed the possibility of organizing a friendly match between FC Barcelona's first team and the Bulgarian national football team. According to Radev, such an event would serve as a powerful source of inspiration for Bulgarian children and aspiring footballers.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Radev was presented with an FC Barcelona jersey as a gift.