The expected fixture between Real Madrid and Barcelona legends slated for September 15 in Mumbai has been postponed due to the unavailability of key players, the organizers announced.
There are further doubts that the game will ever hold as team are entering the hot zone of their leagues and various competitions.
“There has been some availability issues with the players, so as of now it’s not happenings on September 15. It is now to be held tentatively in the first week of October ahead of the World Cup,” the organizers said.
With heavy fixtures in October for the World Cup qualifiers and competitions red hot, there is little chance of the event going as planned. Legends of the top two Spanish sides Real Madrid and Barcelona were supposed to meet and play the exhibition match in honour of Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff.
The agreement for the game was signed back in May at the Santiago Bernabeu. Former India forward Dipendu Biswas was allegedly named the brand ambassador ahead of the fixture but the player has denied ever being in the know with the new arrangement.
“The match was to be held in Mumbai on September 15 but I’m not aware that it’s not happening as per schedule. I’m busy with Mohammedan Sporting Club now.”
Stars like Nicolas Anelka, Luis Figo, Fernando Morientes, Michel Salgado were billed to appear. The game was originally planned for Kolkata but it was shifted to Mumai due to logistics concerns.
Kolkata is the city that would host the Under-17 World Cup from October 28 after FIFA approved them. It would be India’s first event and the exhibition would have drawn more publicity but it was moved back to Mumbai.