Barcelona book ‘China date’

European champions Barcelona and their superstar forward Lionel Messi will play China’s Super League winners Beijing Guoan at the Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium in August, state press said Thursday.

“Barcelona’s Beijing match is basically set for August 8 in the Bird’s Nest,” the Beijing Youth Daily quoted promoter Xia Haifeng as saying.

“They will be bringing their top line-up. This is stipulated (in the contract).”

Xia said that 30 percent of Barcelona’s appearance fee had already been paid, although he did not specify the amount involved.

Messi, widely hailed as the best player in the world, is just one of the draws in the star studded line-up of the Spanish giants.