Dubai: Two Emirati footballers will play at FC Barcelona's famed youth academy after impressing coaches at an event in Dubai at the weekend.
The UAE's Omar Rahmani and Mounir Bourayou, along with Alexis Khazzaka from Lebanon, vied with 97 other players from the Middle East in the regional final of Nike's ‘The Chance' search for footballing talent.
They will now head to Spain in August as part of the final 100 players from all around the world, with the top 16 winning a place on a training tour that will see them play matches against some of the best academy teams in world football.
Player reaction
After the event at Al Ahli club, Rahmani said: "The past two days have been really tough and I still can't believe that I'm one of the final three. It's a dream come true."
Bourayou added: "It's a dream come true. I will do my best in Barcelona and I hope I'll get noticed."
