First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
It was today confirmed that FC Barcelona, one of the biggest club names in world football, will return to Scotland this summer and play Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday 26 July. Ticket arrangements will be announced shortly and priority sales to Early Bird season ticket purchasers will commence later this week.
The agreement signed between Platinum One and FC Barcelona will see the full Barcelona first team squad return to St Andrews to conduct pre season training, arriving in Scotland on Monday 21st and departing on Saturday 26th July. As part of the agreement, FC Barcelona will play two pre season matches, with a return to Tannadice to play Dundee United being one of them. On Thursday 24th July at 19:45 FC Barcelona will play Hibernian FC at Murrayfield and then conclude their visit with a match against Dundee United FC at Tannadice on Saturday 26th July, kick-off 16:00. The agreement between Platinum One and FC Barcelona binds the club to bring the full first team squad and to play its senior players in the games.
Maeve Buckley, Chief Executive of Platinum One Group, expressed Platinum One’s delight to be bringing one of world football’s biggest clubs back to Scotland. “Following last year’s successful visit both FC Barcelona and Platinum One were adamant that the club return to Scotland. The FC Barcelona management, players and officials all agreed that the welcome offered by the people of Scotland coupled with the first class facilities Platinum One created in St Andrews were unsurpassable elsewhere.
Platinum One’s relationship with the club flourished during last year’s visit, and having received such high praise for our management of the event and the facilities we provided, we were delighted that an agreement was struck that will see the club return to Scotland for a second consecutive year.”
Commenting on behalf of FC Barcelona, Txiki Begiristain said that everyone at the club was very much looking forward to returning to Scotland. “We are happy to come back to St Andrews taking in consideration that the experience from last year was more than positive. The facilities, the weather, the logistics, everything contributed to work in perfect conditions. They exceeded all of our expectations. I can confirm that the players were satisfied with the experience and are looking forward to come back this summer. Apart from the working conditions we also were happy to receive the warmth from the supporters and, in general, from everybody in St. Andrews. That was also very nice.”
Dundee United Chief Executive Stephen Thompson is looking forward to Tannadice playing host to such world class opposition again - the fourth time that FC Barcelona have played at Dundee United's home ground. "Dundee United and FC Barcelona have a long standing connection, dating back to the first time we met in the Fairs Cup in 1966. Last year's experience was fantastic for the Club and our supporters, with tickets sold out in just days. We made many good friends and look forward to renewing acquaintances again in July."
First Minister Alex Salmond added his comments on the success of last summer’s visit and looked ahead to welcoming the club back to Scotland. “I am delighted that FC Barcelona will be returning to Scotland this summer. St Andrews is a stunning venue with excellent facilities for pre-season training. FC Barcelona is not the first and will certainly not be the last international sporting group to choose Scotland as its host. It is a pleasure to welcome visiting teams from around the world, particularly as we get ready to host the greatest sporting event Scotland has ever seen– the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.”
FC Barcelona’s schedule will mirror that of last year, with the team staying in the famous Old Course Hotel and training within the grounds of St Andrews University. Murrayfield and Tannadice will again accommodate both showcase fixtures.
Information on tickets for the match will be available shortly via the Club website.
