E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. - A day after the announcement and about four months before the game, rookie fullback Marvell Wynne had already set a goal for the New York Red Bulls game against FC Barcelona.
"I'm hoping he'll run at me one time, I'll keep my feet and maybe he'll go back," the No. 1 overall pick in this year's MLS SuperDraft said of Ronaldinho. "I probably won't win the ball, I probably won't intercept the ball but I just don't want to have him go forward. Parallel would be fine but if I can make him go backwards then I will be happy."
After the Red Bulls' final training session at Giants Stadium before flying to Salt Lake for Saturday night's game against Real Salt Lake, Red Bulls players were still buzzing about getting the chance to play Barcelona at home Aug. 12.
"It's pretty amazing because it's one of the best clubs in the world; they're in the Champions League now, doing well and we're going to be playing them in August?" Jeff Parke said. "Just to get out on the same pitch with them, watching them you can see how they move. It's just a true test; you can put yourself out there and compare yourself."
The announcement was made official Wednesday. Barcelona will play three matches in the USA, but the game against the Red Bulls will be the only against an MLS team.
"When you have the likes of the biggest name in the world to come in and play your team in New York City, obviously it's tremendous," Red Bulls coach Mo Johnston said. "It's a great opportunity for these players and the fans to come and watch the best team in the world. Barcelona has three or four of the best players in the world in [Lionel] Messi, [Samuel] Eto'o, Ronaldinho, [Henrik] Larsson. Their names are known throughout the world."
A year ago Chelsea played D.C. United, AC Milan took on the Chicago Fire and Real Madrid faced the Los Angeles Galaxy. At the time, the MetroStars players lamented not getting a chance. Instead they went to Rochester, N.Y. and lost in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
But now, as the Red Bulls, they have that opportunity.
"We got our shot, let's see what we can do," Carlos Mendes said. "We're up against the best in the world so it will be exciting. It's good for the fans and it's good for us to see where we're at.
"Obviously it's a friendly but we want to do well and we want to put up a good game and show that we're here to compete," he added. "I think it's real important for us and for the league."
Barcelona, currently running away with the La Liga title and in the UEFA Champions League semifinals, will play a pair of Mexican sides in exhibition matches in Los Angeles (Aug. 6) and Houston (Aug. 9).
The Catalan club last visited the United States in 2003, playing Juventus to a 2-2 tie at Gillette Stadium, beating AC Milan 2-0 at RFK Stadium and losing to Manchester United 3-1 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs
