East Bengal in talks to join hands with Barcelona

Rakuten, principal sponsor and the global innovation partner of Barcelona, is advising the LaLiga giant to expand its market worldwide.

Rakuten, Barcelona's principal sponsor and the global innovation partner, facilitated a meeting at the Quess House in Bengaluru with senior officials of the LaLiga giant and East Bengal.

Senior officials of LaLiga title defender Barcelona and East Bengal FC met on Wednesday to explore the possibility of an association between the two clubs.

The meeting that was held at the Quess House in Bengaluru was facilitated by Rakuten, Barcelona's principal sponsor and the global innovation partner, which incidentally, is advising the Spanish giant to expand its market worldwide.

The deal, if it were to finalise, should prove to be a boon to the growth of Indian football at grassroots level.

I-League club East Bengal previously had a partnership with Premier League side Leicester City.

Recently, Minerva Punjab also signed an MoU with Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach.

Earlier this year, I-League champion Chennai City FC also partnered with Swiss club FC Basel.