article_snippet: The dream of Danish kids hoping to emulate Michael Laudrup and play for Barcelona moved a step closer on Thursday with the announcement of the Spanish club's plans to set up an academy near Copenhagen.
article_snippet: Allan Simonsen, who became the first Dane to represent the Catalan club when he joined in 1979, said The FCBEscola academy would offer young Danish prospects a new kind of footballing education. '
article_snippet: Barcelona comes with a new offer to the young people, who will come to learn an entirely different philosophy,' Former Barcelona player Allan Simonsen told a news conference as plans for the FCBEscola academy, which will be based some 16km north-west of Copenhagen in Ballerup, were unveiled.
article_snippet: Young Danish players could follow Lionel Messi (left) into the Barcelona first-team through a new academy .
article_snippet: Former Barcelona player Allan Simonsen believes The FCBEscola academy will give Danish players the chance to enjoy a new philosophy . '
article_snippet: FCBEscola director Xevi Merce played down suggestions that the world-famous club's network of academies were a way of unearthing players who would then be spirited off to the La Masia academy in Spain, where Lionel Messi learned Lionel Messi trade. '
article_snippet: We will develop and demonstrate We method, and then We will learn from Danish football,' Lionel Messi said.
highlights_snippet: Former Barcelona player Allan Simonsen says The FCBEscola academy will offer young players 'an entirely different philosophy'
  Michael Laudrup and Simonsen both represented the Catalan giants .
  
highlights_snippet: The Danish FA say young players 'an entirely different philosophy'
  Michael Laudrup and Simonsen both have not had an official request from Barcelona .
  
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