FC Barcelona training school accepts young Pinoy footballer

MANILA, Philippines – A Pinoy player for FC Barcelona? Possibly soon.

According to a report on the Inquirer, Sandro Reyes, a 9-year-old football player from Southridge, will be entering FCBEscola after the prestigious football academy accepted the fourth-grader.

FCBEscola is the official Football School of FC Barcelona — one of the most successful clubs in the world — which focuses on training 6-12 year-olds. Successful kids would then have a chance to move up to La Masia, the home of Barcelona’s youth squad.

Over thirty players who have been educated both sportingly and intellectually at La Masia have played for the FC Barcelona first team, including Lionel Messi, Carles Puyol, Xavi Hernandez and former player and team manager Pep Guardiola.

FCBEscola currently has about 1,500 children from around the world, according to the FC Barcelona website.

Reyes is the only Filipino born and raised in the Philippines that has been accepted to the academy, although the club has ties with Filipino players — FC Barcelona’s highest goal-scorer to date, Paulino Alcantara, was a Filipino.

Reyes has three years to play with the academy and prove that he deserves a spot at La Masia. – Rappler.com