"It's funny how Brazilian sports commentators have changed. They now talk about Barça as a Catalan football team” said Ferran Royo, president of the São Paulo Supporters Club. "We have students who come here to become interested in Catalan culture and this is something unknown to us. Brazilians show interest in Catalonia, mainly due to their passion for Barça" added Marius Vendrell, President of the Catalan Cultural Association.

Interest in Barça and Catalonia

The 13 minute program exemplified the case of Vinícius Alves, coordinator of Brazilian banking system projects, who, along with his wife, attends Catalan classes regularly at the Catalan Centre in São Paulo.

"The first time I heard Catalan was at the Barcelona Olympics, with the singing of the anthem “el Cant de la Senyera”. I wanted to learn to find the meaning of 'more than a club' when they talked about Barça. It is not just a sport, there is an identity with the Catalan people and I really liked it" admitted Vinícius, who has Sant Jordi tattooed on his leg.

The premiere is on Thursday at 23.00 on Barça TV.