Barça stars to grace Old Trafford

Barça stars to grace Old Trafford

FC Barcelona have confirmed that four players - Ronaldinho, Carles Puyol, Lilian Thuram and Gianluca Zambrotta - have been given the green light to accept the invitation to take part in the celebration match between Manchester United FC and an all-star Europe XI to be played on Tuesday 13 March at Old Trafford, Manchester (kick-off 20.00 local time/21.00CET).
Rijkaard confirmsFrank Rijkaard, head coach of the UEFA Champions League title-holders, confirmed the players' availability to UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh during this week's UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup and Conference events in Barcelona. The Dutchman represented Europe during the 2001 Meridian Cup All-Star Match in Bari, where Marcello Lippi was head coach of the European side and Andy Roxburgh his assistant. The same two coaches will be on the Europe XI bench at Old Trafford, and Rijkaard, who plans to accompany his players on the trip to Manchester, has laid the foundations for a 'reunion'.
Lippi's squadRonaldinho is the first attacker to feature in Lippi's squad, while Puyol, Thuram and Zambrotta - the latter two rivals from last summer's FIFA World Cup final - will further reinforce a back line already comprising Eric Abidal (Olympique Lyonnais) and Jamie Carragher (Liverpool FC). Grégory Coupet, the Lyon goalkeeper, as well as midfielders David Beckham (Real Madrid CF), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) and Juninho Pernambucano (Lyon) have also been made available for the Europe XI.
Thuram the ambassadorThe presence of Thuram at the Old Trafford match, which marks the 50th anniversary of both the Treaty of Rome and Manchester United's entry into European club competition, has special significance. The Frenchman has already accepted another invitation to be an ambassador for the united Europe; he was asked by UEFA and the Brussels regional government to be the central figure in an exhibition set in the heartland of the European Union institutions from May to August this year.
Football's social role"I enjoy playing in this type of match," said Thuram, "and especially one that emphasises the role football can play within European society." Roxburgh added: "It's good to feel that the players are so keen to take part. We're grateful to them, to Frank Rijkaard and to the club president for being so supportive and for wanting to be part of such a significant match."
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