FC Barcelona put in a brilliant performance in the Gamper Trophy to kick off the 2022/23 season with a 6-0 win over Liga MX side Pumas UNAM. Robert Lewandowski scored his first goal for the La Liga side and was named MVP of the game, his first accolade at his new club.
Before the game which was broadcast by TUDN, Barcelona president Joan Laporta spoke with former FC Barcelona legend Hristo Stoichkov about the impact of Mexican and American fans on the club. “We are indebted to Mexico and the United States. Barça exist thanks to the pre-season tour they did in the summer of 1937,“said Laporte.
“It was curious because thanks to this tour the club was able to earn a lot of money and they put it in an account in Paris and that saved the club. We were in serious danger of selling the club and had to use emergency funds to keep Barcelona afloat and tour money helped,added Laporta.
Will Barça return to Mexico?
The La Liga outfit have just returned from a pre-season tour of the United States and have played four exhibition matches. Barcelona played against Inter Miami, Real Madrid, Juventus and NY Red Bulls before returning to Spain to prepare for the start of the season. All matches were played in different cities across the United States and all stadiums were at full capacity, leaving a very positive income for Barcelona.
Laporta also touched on the possibility of Barca returning to Mexico for a pre-season tour for all the fans in that country and said the chances are high. “We have to do something in Mexico because there are a lot of competitive teams. The last time we played there was against Club América for their anniversary and Emilio Azcarraga [the owner of the La Liga side] organized this event. We only played one game and we have to come back soon.”
