Today, AFFA General Secretary Cahangir Farajullayev welcomed officials from Spain’s FC Barcelona who are on a visit to Azerbaijan.

According to Offsideplus.az, citing AFFA’s official website, the meeting was attended by Marc Sabaté Ferré, head of FC Barcelona's academies in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), and Bernat Villa Ay Gorris, technical coordinator for the club's academies in Europe and Africa. The guests visited AFFA's administrative headquarters.

During the meeting, discussions were held regarding the establishment of a Barcelona football academy in Azerbaijan. The guests also presented a commemorative gift to AFFA’s General Secretary.

It is worth noting that the Barcelona representatives visited "ASCO Arena" and "Liv Bona Dea Arena" in Mardakan yesterday to assess the stadium facilities.

The idea of opening a Barcelona football academy in Azerbaijan was first proposed in February 2024. On March 1, FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta visited Baku and discussed the initiative with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.