A total of 100 Chinese kids will attend a winter training camp organized by La Masia, FC Barcelona's youth academy, in Qingdao, according to the Spanish club's Chinese partner.

The training camp, which will take place between January 18 and February 19, is a pilot project of the football school co-founded by FC Barcelona and Qingdao Huanghai last November, said Huanghai spokesman Sun Di.

La Masia coaches Albert Moratalla and Sergi Pi, who hold Class B UEFA coaching certificates, have already arrived in Qingdao to oversee the training camp, said Sun.

"The Chinese kids and their parents are excited about the project, as they know superstars Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez both came through this youth training system," said Sun Xinming, a youth coach at Qingdao Huanghai.

Meanwhile, a site has been chosen for the football school in Qingdao Huanghai and the construction work will soon begin. The football school is scheduled to open in 2018, with about 300 pupils to be enrolled initially.

Source: Xinhua

Proofread by John Devlin