Barcelona will host Real Madrid at Camp Nou on Wednesday for the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi final with the players’ names written in Chinese.
Special shirt names for a special match! #ElClásico #ChineseNewYear pic.twitter.com/FWVGrwsuvh
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 6, 2019
It has been revealed that Barcelona’s players will wear shirts featuring Chinese characters when they take on Real Madrid to celebrate Chinese New Year.
The Spanish giants have announced the move to mark Chinese New Year, with this the first time Barcelona’s shirts have featured new characters on the back.
Special shirt names for a special match! #ElClásico #ChineseNewYear pic.twitter.com/FWVGrwsuvh
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 6, 2019
An official statement indicated that the move is part of the club’s attempts to establish a growing presence in the Asian market. Barcelona are expected to tour China and Japan for pre-season at the end of the 2018-19 campaign.
According to Fox Sports, Barcelona want to establish themselves as major players in Asia, and ensured they do so by issuing a statement explaining the Chinese names on jerseys.
The La Liga giants’ are optimistic the marketing decision will play an important role in increasing the club’s fans base across the Asian continent.
“This action is added to the video of congratulation for the Chinese New Year that was made by the club and released this Monday, with the participation of first team players Leo Messi, Gerard Pique, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Samuel Umtiti,” reads part of the statement.
“This year is also an important one for the strategy of establishment of Barca in China, which will experience its most important moment next summer when the first team will visit China and Japan on their pre-season tour,” the statement adds.
Reports indicate that already shops within the city, who received supplies of the strip jersey with the players’ names in Chinese have commenced sales.
Clashes between Real Madrid and Barcelona are usually thrilling but Chinese Barcelona fans who will have a more vested interest in the game on the Wednesday’s game.