Barcelona's Nou Camp looks almost unrecognisable as new footage shows the iconic stadium in ruins amid £1.25bn rebuild
  • 8 months ago
New footage from inside the Nou Camp shows that no time has been wasted in getting the extensively planned renovations underway.

Less than three months have passed since Barcelona defeated Real Mallorca at the famous ground in their final home game of last season, with no certainty on when they will return.

In the meantime, Xavi's side will play their home games across the Catalan capital at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis, a 54,000-capacity stadium that previously homed cross-city rivals Espanyol.

The work on the iconic stadium marks the first major renovations at the venue since it opened in the autumn of 1957, with the work estimated to be upwards of £ 1.25 billion.

More than 250 workers are said to be on site as the club aims to have the stadium ready for a return sometime in the 2025-26 season.

Footage shared by the club on Thursday shows the ground almost unrecognizable from its former self, with the pitch that housed so many historic moments entirely removed and populated by machinery and rubble.

Gone too, is the stadium's imposing Colosseum-like upper tier, with computer-generated plans showing that a more modern partial roof will be built onto the historic foundations.

Though many of the seats have been removed, the footage glimpses some of the remaining yellow seats that once spelled out the Barcelona motto 'Mes que un club'.

Once completed, the works will transform the Nou Camp into one of Europe's most modern stadiums, with larger seats and new VIP areas.

The club claims 'sustainability at the DNA of the project' with solar panels on the new stadium, geothermal energy, and a new water recycling system placed underneath the ground.

Last month club president Joan Laporta donned a hard hat to visit the site himself and left thrilled at the work so far.

He said, as per Spanish media: 'The first sensation it generates is nostalgia.

'But, after walking around and seeing the pace of the works, which are going well, it gives you the feeling of hope and joy because we are fulfilling a collective dream of the people of Barcelona.
Recommended