体坛英语新闻：Barca opens training camp in China

BEIJING, July 20 (Xinhua) -- A four-week training camp kicked off here as coaches from Spanish La Liga power Barcelona give instructions to junior Chinese footballers.

The FCBEscola Camp China started on Monday through to August 20 and training sessions will be held in Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Wuhan.

"The club will hold the training camp for three years. And they plan to select 15 to 20 young players who meet Barca's standards and take them to Spain in April 2016," said Zhao Wei, Barca training camp representative in China.

In Barcelona, the selected Chinese players will play with counterparts from the La Masia training system.

"Barcelona will cover all their expenses there," said Zhao.

Barcelona also plans to set up the first official soccer school in China this year, bringing in its legendary La Masia academy system.

La Masia academy is known for its wealth of youth talents who later grow into world-class stars, Lionel Messi included.

Barca's entry into China has everything to do with a profound soccer reform pushed by China's top leaders.

The reform plan sets goals for Chinese soccer, such as qualifying for the World Cup and giving favorable policies to boost its development.

According to Nama sports company, one of the training camp organizers, Barca jumped at this opportunity to enter the Chinese market.