More than 900 children at major hospitals receive a message from the Barça players, coach and president

For the second year in a row the Covid-19 pandemic has prevented the traditional visit to hospital carried out by the first team during the holiday period so for that reason, the FC Barcelona Foundation has distributed a video message of support to more than 900 children in major Children's Hospitals around Catalonia from the president Joan Laporta; coach Xavi Hernández; the player Sergio Busquets, Gerard Piqué, Jordi Alba, Marc-André ter Stegen, Ronald Araujo, Ansu Fati and Nico González as well as women's players Aitana Bonmatí, Patri Guijarro and Jana Fernández. 

Aside from the message, the FC Barcelona Foundation has also sent presents to the children at those hospitals that usually host visits from the players and FC Barcelona directors and Foundation board members: Sant Joan de Déu, Vall d’Hebron, Hospital de Barcelona, Sant Pau, Germans Trias, Parc Taulí de Sabadell, Barcelona Children's Hospital, Roland McDonald and Cottolengo. 

A much missed visit

The president of FC Barcelona and the Foundation, Joan Laporta, in his message explained that he was very disappointed not to be able to carry out the traditional visit to the hospitals and he added "unfortunately this year we will not be able to visit you and we are sad about this, the players and the Board of Directors, because this visit is one of the most emotional events of the year and for that reason we want to send you a message of support and gift from the Barça Foundation." 

For his part, the men's football first team coach Xavi Hernández also remembered how important these visits were to him in his days as a Barça player and "this year we cannot come to visit you unfortunately as we have to be really careful due to Covid-19." The players as well expressed their regret at the situation and all concerned sent messages of support to the children in hospital with the hope that they will be able to make a visit soon.