Students flock to new academy

– Ronaldinho launched a Barcelona academy for about 1 000 students in China yesterday as the world’s most populous nation pursues its grand ambitions in the sport.

The Barcelona and Brazil great and club president Josep Maria Bartomeu met children and toured the site at the Mission Hills golf complex on Hainan island, which will have seven pitches when it opens later this year.

The new facility will be the biggest of Barcelona’s 20-plus academies around the world, and the first directly managed by club staff. – AFP