FCBARCELONA.CAT

28.03.2007 17:04

Christian and Verdu come home

Christian and Verdú will play with Deportivo on Saturday at the Camp Nou. The players formed in the ranks of the Barça youth system will be coming home and will get the chance to make their competitive debut against Barça.

The two players are sure to be among the main protagonists in the match against Deportivo as they have been all this week. Christian and Verdú, both formed in the ranks of the Barça youth system will arrive to the Camp Nou as Deportivo players to face the likes of Messi, Oleguer, Iniesta and Jorquera. Also, they will be making their competitive debut at the Camp Nou stadium and will be hoping to stop the home side from taking maximum points. Both however are conscious of the fact that they are coming home.

Their years at Barça

Verdú joined the club in the season 98-99 from la Peña Barcelonista Anguera. He started at cadete A level before rising all the way to the Barça B where he played from 2002-2003 until last June. In his last few seasons he coincided in the reserves with Christian Hidalgo. He arrived in 2002-2003 from Santo Gabriel and just a year later was already part of the Barça B team.

Official debut at the Camp Nou

This will be the first official game for both at the Camp Nou. However both played in at the stadium in friendly games with Barça. Their debut was on the 30th of November in an AIDS charity match that saw Barça take on a team of world all-stars. Verdú also had another game at the stadium the following year in another friendly, this time against the Peace Team – a team made up of Israeli and Palestinian players.

The game against Shakthar

Joan Verdú also had the opportunity to play in the Champions League. In the season 2004-2005 the Catalan midfielder was included in the starting XI for the group match against Shakthar Dontesk from Ukraine. Despite the 2-0 defeat the positive note was the participation of young reserve team players such as Verdú, Rodri, Javito and a very young Leo Messi.