August 04, 2022
By Murtuza Merchant
The first NFT collection of FC Barcelona was sold for $693,000 on Friday at a Sotheby’s auction in New York.
The “In a Way, Immortal” collection honoured their late, renowned player Johan Cruyff, who died in 2016.
What is Barcelona’s First NFT
In honour of one of their greatest and most illustrious players of all time, Dutch international Johan Cruyff, FC Barcelona’s inaugural NFT was created.
Notably, the NFT itself was a 40-second audio-visual work that artistically re-enacted Cruyff’s goal against Atletico Madrid in 1973 in the form of a molten gold animation.
A group of 40 computer graphics and visual effects professionals at Hollywood produced and animated the clip.
What do holders stand to gain?
The auction’s winner, who takes ownership of the NFT, will be entitled to a host of advantages.
The winner will be the “Catalan Club’s” digital ambassador. They will also get access to training sessions and experiences that money cannot buy.
Meet-and-greets, tours of Barcelona’s academy, stay at La Masia, hospitality rights (for a minimum of five years), the ability to play at the Spotify Camp Nou stadium, and an official transfer of the ball prior to a friendly match are all on the list of experiences.
The Background of Cruyff and FC Barcelona
One of the best and most well-known football teams in the sport’s history is FC Barcelona.
The club, which Joan Gamper led a group of Swiss, Catalan, German, and English footballers to form in 1899, has come to represent Catalan culture.
Barcelona is owned and run by the supporters, unlike other teams.
With a $4.76 billion valuation, they are the fourth most valuable sports club in the world.
They have seen some of the top players in the world during their history.
The roster includes Johan Cruyff as well as Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Carles Puyol, Pep Guardiola, etc.
Since losing their star player, Lionel Messi, to PSG a few years ago, FC Barcelona has experienced some financial difficulties.
To become the club’s primary sponsor, they have negotiated a significant agreement with Spotify for this year.
The agreement also includes stadium naming rights for the team. Hopefully, this will put an end to their financial problems.
About the author
Murtuza Merchant is a senior journalist and an avid follower of blockchain and cryptocurrencies.
