Barcelona to rebuild Nou Camp stadium

Barcelona: Barcelona’s board of directors have rejected the option of building a new stadium and will push ahead with a remodelling of the Nou Camp.

Barca members, who collectively own the club, will be given a chance at the beginning of April to vote on the proposal that would increase the capacity of Europe’s biggest stadium from 98,000 to 105,000 and help increase match day income, president Sandro Rosell told a news conference on Monday.

The project, which also includes the construction of a new indoor basketball arena and various other installations, is expected to cost around 600 million euros (Dh3 billion) and work would begin in 2017 and be completed by early 2021.

Barca plan to take out bank loans worth 200 million euros and expect 150 million from selling naming rights. The rest of the cost would be covered by existing funds.

Matches would still be played while the work, which would see a striking new roof added to the current structure, was carried out.

“It was a difficult decision,” Rosell said. “The two projects were very attractive but we were committed to put to a referendum a project that was viable from a technical, urban-planning and economic perspective.

“The Nou Camp is part of our collective memory, the biggest stadium in Europe and an icon of the city of Barcelona.

“The option of building a new stadium on a new site has been rejected as the final cost could have saddled the club and its members with debt and tied the hands of future boards of directors,” added Rosell.

The plans for the remodelled stadium, which opened in 1957, include building a steeper bottom tier to improve visibility for spectators.

There would be new restaurants with a view of the pitch and so-called “super boxes” and other VIP services.

“To maintain our status as leaders we have to take this historic step which will require effort from everyone involved but which will guarantee the comforts that come with a new installation with the latest technologies at the service of its users and athletes,” Rosell said.

“What’s more we will increase the value of our real estate and the capacity to generate additional income without having to sell off assets.”

Meanwhile, Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has offered to testify before a judge to try to resolve a legal challenge filed by a club member over the signing of Brazil forward Neymar.

Neymar was paraded as the Spanish champions’ marquee signing when they beat off competition from Real Madrid to lure him from Santos in the close season and the club said he had cost 57.1 million euros.

However, precise details of the contract were not revealed with Barca pointing out the existence of confidentiality agreements. A club member, Jordi Cases, having not received the information he requested about the deal, then took legal action.

Rosell denies wrongdoing and the club reacted angrily after the state prosecutor asked the judge to open proceedings for possible misappropriation of funds.

Neymar’s signing was “complex” and an example of “business engineering” and they would act forcefully to defend the honour of the club and the president, Barca said.

“Having anticipated you would ask about this, there are two points I would like to make,” Rosell told a news conference on Monday to unveil Barca’s plans to remodel their stadium.

“The first is a reaffirmation ... that Neymar cost 57.1 million euros, full stop. I am saying it for the umpteenth time and that’s enough now.

“The second is a request, with all my respect for the judge in this case. I ask him to initiate proceedings and calls me to testify, precisely so I can tell the judge anything he would like to hear because there is nothing to hide,” said Rosell.

“Everything is absolutely legal and absolutely clean. Any confidentially clause that existed was always because it was asked for by the other side.” Spanish daily El Mundo reported on Monday it had access to court documents that showed Neymar had cost a total of 95 million euros including various commissions and fees paid to the player’s family.

That would make him the second most expensive player in history after Real paid Tottenham Hotspur 100 million euros for Wales winger Gareth Bale last year.

In an interview with Barcelona-based daily Sport last week, Neymar said he believed there was nothing illegal about his transfer.

“I know that a lot is being said about my contract. I have spoken to (my father) to see what they were talking about exactly. My father was the one who signed the contracts and he is someone in whom I have total trust,” the 21-year-old said.

“There is nothing illegal. If anyone has any doubts they should ask my dad because I’m concentrating on my job which is playing football.”