Staffordshire University seals deal with FC Barcelona

The partnership agreement sees students and staff working alongside professionals at one of the biggest football clubs in the world.

Students will also get the chance to visit Barcelona's training ground on an annual basis.

Professor Vish Unnithan, an expert in exercise physiology at the university, is already working on a project relating to body fat levels with Barcelona's hugely talented first team, which boasts the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.

In addition, Professor Unnithan is working with one of the team's sports medicine doctors, Dr Daniel Medina, to present a symposium at the American College of Sports Medicine Meeting in Boston in May 2016 entitled The Making of Messi: Talent Identification and Development in Elite Youth Soccer.

The symposium will highlight the Barcelona philosophy toward talent identification in elite youth soccer.

Eight Staffordshire University students have recently returned from a four-day trip to the club where they got exclusive behind-the-scenes access at the training ground and a chance to meet the technical, coaching and medical staff.

The students were also able to hear Professor Unnithan give a talk to the medical staff at Barcelona, the current champions of Europe, on his football-related research.

Professor Unnithan said: "The trip was fantastic in allowing our students to gain a deeper understanding of the FC Barcelona training philosophy.

"They also got to see the team in action when they attended the Barcelona against Roma Champions League match at the Camp Nou.

"The trip also involved a cultural exchange with final year student's at the Universitat Ramon Llull in Barcelona where our students got to share their UK sport and educational experiences with their Catalan counter-parts.

"All the students were outstanding ambassadors for the university on this trip."

Tom Robinson, a final year student on the BA (Hons) Sports Development course, said : "It was a great experience and gave us a really good insight into the development of elite soccer.

"In Spain it's a lot more relaxed and nurturing and this reflects in the abilities of the players.

"The trip covered all bases and it was an invaluable opportunity to observe first-hand the cultural differences in both their football and education system. It was because of our lecturers that we got to learn so much and there is the opportunity of student placements in future."