Baku: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received Joan Laporta, President of FC Barcelona, on March 1.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the meeting marked Laporta’s second visit to Azerbaijan, with his first being during COP29. Laporta expressed gratitude for the warm reception and shared his admiration for the development he observed in Baku.

The discussions during the meeting underscored the potential for collaboration between Azerbaijan and FC Barcelona. Laporta highlighted the impressive development processes in Baku and emphasized that his visit aimed to explore opportunities for cooperation in sports development, particularly in football.

The meeting also touched upon the Azerbaijani government’s support for sports, noting the country’s capacity to host prestigious international sports events and world-class football matches. A significant outcome of the discussions was the announcement of a forthcoming agreement to establish a Barcelona Football Academy in Azerbaijan. Both par
ties exchanged ideas regarding the academy’s future activities and the development of children’s football in the country.

As a token of appreciation, Joan Laporta presented President Ilham Aliyev with a keepsake to commemorate the meeting.