Bulgarian Sports Minister rejects Barcelona friendly match in Sofia

Bulgarian Sports Minister Encho Keryazov has declined a proposal to organize a friendly football match featuring FC Barcelona in Sofia. Although the idea was shared by both the Minister and Prime Minister Rumen Radev, Keryazov decided against it following an analysis of organizational logistics, potential dates, the club's existing commitments, and meteorological conditions.

Despite the rejection of the match, Keryazov noted that representatives from Barcelona have visited Bulgaria to discuss a long-term project. The club is interested in establishing a football academy in the country, modeled after its famous La Masia academy, potentially located at the Akademik Stadium. The project would require an investor to provide the necessary funding.