Eddy Merckx meets Sandro Rosell

14.07.2010 13:40

Eddy Merckx meets Sandro Rosell

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Legendary cyclist Eddie Merckx visited FC Barcelona president Sandro Rosell on Wednesday morning and was presented with a limited edition first team shirt that was the same as the one worn by the Blaugrana in the Champions League final in 2009.

"It is a great honour to meet the new Barça president," Mercx told Barça TV and www.fcbarcelona.cat during an extended interview for the club's television channel. "Barça are a great team and he is a great president."

A very special gift

Merckx and Rosell chatted for a while before the shirt presentation took place. The Belgian cyclist saw the Champions League final in 2009 live in Rome with his grandson and that is who will receive the prized jersey.

The man that won the Tour de France five times is in Barcelona as his grandson is set to appear for Belgium's Under-16 hockey team in the European Championships at the Real Club de Polo.

Barça fan

This is not Merckx's first visit to Camp Nou however. "I like Barça a lot," he admitted because revealing that he is a member of honour and has been to see various games.

Tour de France

During his chat with Rosell the cyclist talked about Barça and also about the 2010 Tour de France. "The favourite is Contador because he has everything," Merckx explained. "Although Andy Schleck is a good runner, I think Contador has it all."

Merckx was accompanied on his visit to Barça by former director of sportswear firm Kelme Rafa Carrasco.