Barcelona unveil Johan Cruyff memorial at the Camp Nou
Barcelona have unveiled a special enclosure within the Camp Nou that serves as a memorial site for the recently deceased Johan Cruyff. Barcelona President, Josep Maria Bartolomeu and several dignitaries were in attendance as they opened the memorial, with Bartomeu leading the tributes as the Catalan club mourned the death of their favourite Dutch son.
Johan Cruyff’s death on Thursday shocked the world of football, despite the Dutchman’s battle with lung cancer. Barcelona, in particular, are the club with a definite imprint of Cruyff as the Dutch legend revamped the club as a player and as a manager. Thus, Barcelona have unveiled a special enclosure that will serve as a memorial site open to the public until Tuesday next week.
Josep Maria Bartolomeu, Barcelona's president, led the tributes, saying “These are sad days for Barcelona and football. But the show of support at Camp Nou and around the world is welcome. Johan changed the world of football and Barca, in the way he expressed himself, too. It's impossible to understand the current situation without him.”
“He is and will continue being a great reference for the fans.”
Tributes have been pouring in around the world
Cruyff’s death has meant the entire footballing universe has been in mourning, with Netherlands paying a fitting tribute to the Dutch legend in their friendly against France last night, as the game was paused in the 14th minute for a minute of rousing applause, from both players and fans in the stadium.
In a similar vein, various dignitaries in attendance at the unveiling of the memorial took the opportunity to pay tribute to Cruyff. Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta said, “He was always grateful to the club. He was kind, he revolutionised football with his way of understanding football and life. Barcelona and Catalonia have been privileged to be linked with him.”
Salvador Sadurni, a teammate of Cruyff at Barcelona recounted an anecdote, saying “We were champions five games before the end of La Liga. He was an amazing team-mate. I took part in a tribute to a boy who had had an accident and Cruyff appeared at my house to take part.”