Barcelona, Juventus legends to face off in Navi Mumbai

Edgar Davids

Football afficionados in and around the city are in for a treat as the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai is all set to host a Barcelona Legends v Juventus Legends match on April 27. On Barcelona's side will be leading names like Frenchman Eric Abidal, Dutch playmaker Edgar Davids, Brazilian Edmilson and Miguel Angel Nadal, the brother of Spanish tennis ace Rafa Nadal's uncle Toni.

Donning's Juventus' famed black-white will be French great David Trezeguet, Italian full back Gianluca Zambrotta and goalkeeper Stefano Tacconi. The friendly fixture was earlier scheduled for February 17 this year at the Mumbai Football Arena in Andheri, but the organisers sought a change in the date and venue. "Kick-off will be around 7.30 to 8pm. Both teams will be arriving Mumbai on April 24 and will leave a day after the match. We are also planning an interaction between the legends and kids from the city," Kaushik Moulik, founder of the Football Next Foundation, organisers of the match, told mid-day yesterday.

The Barca team will be coached by Albert Ferrer. Interestingly, Juventus Legends Club president Trezeguet will be making a return to India after his 2014 Indian Super League (ISL) stint, where he was FC Pune City's marquee player. It is learnt that Brazil legends Rivaldo and Ronaldinho could also be part of the fixture but the organisers could not confirm. "The final squads will be announced 15 days before the match," Moulik added.

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