Real Madrid and Barcelona to open schools in India: Spanish ambassador

The world's football champions, Spain, are preparing to set foot in India to take the country's fans by storm, says a report in Hindustan Times adding that with plans to open football schools and play exhibition matches, newly appointed Spanish ambassador to India Gustavo De Aristegui said, "India is a top-notch priority for Spain" while conversing with Maharashtra governor K Sankarnarayanan on Monday.

The envoy said football clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona would open schools in India and would play a couple of matches for Indian audiences. For tennis buffs, Rafael Nadal would play an exhibition game in Mumbai, said a Raj Bhavan press release on Tuesday.

The ambassador informed the governor that a high-level ministerial delegation led by King Juan Carlos I will be arriving in India on a four-day visit in October during which the king will also meet top business leaders in Mumbai.

Barcelona had recently announced its plans to set up its football school FCBEscola at Gurgaon, in collaboration with Conscient Football, while English Premier League major Manchester United has already set up a school at Cooperage in Mumbai, says a report in The Asian Age. The Ambassador, who met the Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan on Monday, said the two clubs would also play a couple of matches in India, according to a release. The release, however, did not provide the details on when the clubs or the player would play in the country.