CAPE TOWN – Get set to watch Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Andres Iniesta at FNB Stadium on Wednesday!
Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde named a full-strength squad, including the likes of Messi and Suarez, on Tuesday night ahead of their departure for Johannesburg for tomorrow’s Nelson Mandela Centenary Cup clash against Mamelodi Sundowns (6.15pm kickoff).
Apart from the above big names, other stars making their way to Mzansi are goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, defender Gerard Pique and midfielders Sergio Busquets and Philippe Coutinho.
Injured defenders Samuel Umtiti and Thomas Vermaelen will stay behind, though.
Can’t wait to be in a country I have never been to. It’s short, but interesting to see - overall the football culture. Next stop: South Africa! ✈️🇿🇦⚽😊 @FCBarcelona pic.twitter.com/w0FnfSaBtT
— Marc ter Stegen (@mterstegen1) May 15, 2018
Barcelona said in a statement on their website on Tuesday night that “before heading to the airport, the players worked out on the Tito Vilanova field at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, with Leo Messi working out in isolation”.
✈ South Africa #SundownsBarça
🔵🔴 #ForçaBarça pic.twitter.com/f78QV6lVJu
— FC Barcelona 🏆🏆 (@FCBarcelona) May 15, 2018
Iniesta took to Twitter just before boarding the flight, posting the word “Travel” in Spanish with a picture of himself alongside Ter Stegen and Carles Alena.
De viaje!!! ✈️ ⚽ @mterstegen1 @Carlesale10 pic.twitter.com/2dun95BlMg
— Andrés Iniesta (@andresiniesta8) May 15, 2018
Meanwhile, Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana promised that his team will produce their best football against the La Liga champions.
“One thing is for sure, you will see shoe shine and piano,” Kekana said on the Sundowns Twitter account.
All tickets have been sold out for the spectacle, which will see over 94 000 spectators at the iconic 2010 Fifa World Cup final venue.
Barcelona Squad
Marc-André ter Stegen, Jasper Cillessen, Nelson Semedo, Gerard Pique, Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Denis Suarez, Andres Iniesta, Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi, Ousmane Dembele, Philippe Coutinho, Paulinho, Paco Alcacer, Jordi Alba, Lucas Digne, Sergi Roberto, André Gomes, Aleix Vidal, Yerry Mina, Carles Alena, Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Jorge Cuenca.
@ashfakmohamed