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RCDE Academy Iraq brings young players to Barcelona to live the RCDE Experience
Training sessions with RCDE methodology, meeting the first team and attending the RCD Espanyol–Elche CF match
This time, 14 young footballers from the official RCD Espanyol Academies in Iraq enjoyed an unforgettable RCDE Experience in Barcelona.
During their stay, the players had the chance to meet the RCD Espanyol first team, take photos, collect autographs and attend a live LaLiga match at the RCDE Stadium — the thrilling RCD Espanyol vs. Elche CF fixture. But the experience went far beyond that.
The group also took part in training sessions at the Dani Jarque Training Ground, working alongside club professionals under the guidance of coaches trained in the RCDE methodology, a system renowned for its success in developing professional footballers.
With more than 125 years of history, RCD Espanyol is a benchmark in Spanish youth football, with a strong international vocation. The RCDE Academies, present in countries such as Iraq, the United States, Japan, Sweden, South Africa and China, aim to bring the club’s training model to children all over the world.
In Iraq, the project began in 2018 and has since become a regional benchmark. Thanks to the programme’s stability, the technical and human quality of the local coaches, and the ongoing support of the club, these academies have become not only a football training environment but also a space for social cohesion and the promotion of positive values.
Visits like this to Barcelona strengthen the mission of the RCDE Academies: to provide unique opportunities for young talents and to build a global network of training centres under the RCD Espanyol identity. The RCDE Experience programme is just one of the many initiatives that make these academies a solid, distinctive project with a clear vision for the future.
For more information about our international academies or to become an official partner, visit the RCDE Academy section or contact us at academy@rcdespanyol.com.