FC Barcelona present the construction of the Johan Cruyff Stadium with Sant Joan Despí council

In an event which took place at the Mercè Rodoreda Cultural Centre in Sant Joan Despí, just outside the city of Barcelona, president Josep Maria Bartomeu, the commissioner for the Espai Barça,Jordi Moix and the mayor of the town, Antoni Poveda, unveiled the building plans for the Johan Cruyff Stadium on Monday.

Planning permission is not long away from being processed so that work can begin and if all goes well, the first brick of the new stadium could be laid as early as this summer with the project set to be complete for the 2018/19 season.

“The idea would be to lay the first brick in July. We have been working on this project for the last seven years,” announced Jordi Moix. He continued: “The name ‘Minestadi’ will no longer be used and from now on it will be the Johan Cruyff Stadium.”

Josep Maria Bartomeu began his speech with a few words in memory of former Barça vice-president Jaume Llauradó who passed away on Sunday. “He was a man who was tied to Barça and who carried incredible social work, above all to do with the Marathon,” said the current FC Barcelona president.

Bartomeu called the Johan Cruyff Stadium “the joy of the Ciutat Esportiva” and added: “It’s a source of pride that it will bear his name for the rest of history. It is recognition for his figure and all that he brought to Barça as a player and as a coach. He created a school.”

“It will be where our home grown players will play, Barça B, the U19s and the women’s team. Some of them will make the lead to the first team and others will end up playing in the top leagues around the world.”

Mayor Antonio Poveda revealed “today [Monday] we have fired the starting gun for the construction of the Johan Cruyff Stadium, a very important project for Sant Joan Despí.”

Espai Barça commissioner Jordi Moix took the opportunity to explain the technical aspects of the Johan Cruyff Stadium. “Everything is approved, although there is some paperwork still to be done, we hope to lay the first brick in July,” he said.

The Johan Cruyff Stadium will bear the name of the Barça legend who was one of the prime architects of the Club’s policy of promoting home grown players and of the style of football that has become famous around the world. The new ground will replace the current Miniestadi which will make way for the construction of the new Palau Blaugrana.

The Stadium will move from its current site in the Les Corts area of Barcelona next to Camp Nou to the Ciutat Esportiva in Sant Joan Despí, some 8.5 kilometres from the existing facilities.