5 ways in which East Bengal will benefit from a partnership with FC Barcelona

A tie-up of some nature between the two clubs is currently being explored.

Under the Quess brand name, East Bengal has created personal history and also brought some new finds to Indian football as a whole. Be it signing World-Cup star Jonny Acosta last season, bringing in experienced gaffer Alejandro Menendez or improving the club’s image, Quess has brought many benefits. However, it seems they’re now looking to further increase East Bengal’s name in World Football.

On Thursday, Quess officials had a meeting with senior officials of FC Barcelona about a potential partnership in the future. In a deal which also involves their sponsors Rakuten, it can be a first for the Kolkata giants. The options are limitless if a deal is struck to co-partner with a club of Barcelona’s calibre to improve their development. Here we look at 5 such aspects East Bengal could develop with any potential tie-up.

5. A bigger Spanish influence

If their first season under Alejandro Menendez proved anything, the Spanish philosophy is a guaranteed success for East Bengal. After watching ATK reap the boons of the Spanish style, East Bengal has also pinpointed their desire to follow a similar routine. While Alejandro Menendez’s long-term contract shows their long-term goal to get accustomed to this possession-based, attractive style, the Barcelona deal could further amp up their development.

Any partnership could mean the Spanish side sending experienced units from Spain to help Menendez and allow East Bengal to perfect the art of possession-based football. More experienced heads will help Menendez implement his style better, while also benefitting the improvement in players.

4. Youth development

While the reason for the partnership is still well under wraps, one has to guess it would involve particular emphasis of helping East Bengal’s youth structure. The Red and Gold Brigaders boast an impressive youth academy, with their U-19 team even winning the IFA Shield last year. The Kolkata giants must be wanting to do a tie-up regarding youth development with Barcelona, whose La Masia academy has produced such world-class players over the years.

They’ll probably want a few Barcelona heads to come to India and help train the young boys, helping them gain an elite mentality from a young age. This means this Spanish style will be integrated into East Bengal’s system right from their youngsters, to make sure the players grow up mimicking the style the senior team is perfecting.

3. Scouting foreign players

The biggest perk of striking a deal with an influential body like Barcelona is that East Bengal could inherit some very talented players thanks to their connections. Just like ATK benefitted from during their alliance with Atletico Madrid, East Bengal could also be helped to sign some top players with Barcelona’s help.

The Red and Gold Brigade have already proven to have the means of signing big players with Johnny Acosta’s signing, but now they can get similar players more frequently. Barcelona’s impressive scouting system means they can help scout some talented players suited to Menendez’s attacking system themselves. East Bengal fans could get accustomed to watching their side buy top-level foreign talents, who can keep them at the top of Indian football in years to come.

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2. Player exchange programme

A common thing to take place during such partnerships, it could allow East Bengal to send some of their youth players to Barcelona for exposure. The best from the Kolkata giants youth can travel to Barcelona to have a trial with the Spanish giants or just to train in their excellent structure and improve themselves.

This will also give incentive to the youth players to try and outdo each other in order to win a ticket to Barcelona. Similarly, Barcelona can also send some of their own youth players to possibly train with Alejandro Menendez’s side or play alongside them for a short amount of time.  

1. Pre-Season

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Possibly the biggest reward from any potential partnership with Barcelona is to arrange a short pre-season tournament in India. Lionel Messi has already played in Kolkata and if the Red and Gold Brigaders can convince them to send Barcelona’s senior team for a match or two, it’d be huge for their reputation. If not, then East Bengal could also travel to Barcelona to have their pre-season with some competitive Spanish teams and possibly with the Blaugrana themselves.

Such exposure will definitely benefit East Bengal’s Indian players, getting them accustomed to pressure and allowing them to learn how to fit into Menendez’s style the best.