Explained: The new agreement between Spanish football league LaLiga and West Bengal government

Spanish top-division football league LaLiga on Friday signed an agreement with the West Bengal government to set up an academy in the state. The MoU was signed during a closed-door meeting between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and LaLiga president Javier Tebas in Madrid. The academy will help in nurturing young talents. Banerjee, who is on a 12-day trip to Spain, met Tebas in Madrid on Thursday evening and held a closed-door meeting, which focussed on strengthening relations through linking sports and cultural institutions. “This remarkable MoU intends to promote football to foster sportsmanship, health, and prosperity. La Liga will develop a football training academy in West Bengal,” an official said. What is the agreement? According to the agreement, coaches and players from the state will be trained by the coaches of LaLiga. They will also share their experience and expertise to assist the football clubs of West Bengal and make them self-sustainable, the official said. Banerjee was accompanied by former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and senior officials of Kolkata football giants Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting Club. Banerjee invited Tebas to West Bengal, and requested him to be present during a friendly match. “Be our guest, feel the football mania in Bengal. The kind of football frenzy you witness in Bengal is unparalleled,” she told the La Liga president. In reply, he said, “I have no doubt that Bengal is the talent factory of football, and has produced some of India’s finest players.” Ganguly, the cricket icon, said the academy would be a positive step for developing talents in the state. With agency inputs