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 . Allan Simonsen , who became the first Dane to represent the Catalan club when he joined in 1979 , said the academy would offer young Danish prospects a new kind of footballing education . 'FC Barcelona comes with a new offer to the young people , who will come to learn an entirely different philosophy , ' 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 . Young Danish players could follow Lionel Messi ( left ) into the Barcelona first-team through a new academy . Allan Simonsen believes the new academy will give Danish players the chance to enjoy a new philosophy . ' I sincerely doubt that the philosophy is practised in very many places , so it will be completely new . ' But reaction to the news was not all positive and the Danish FA ( DBU ) poured cold water on the idea . 'The DBU has still not received an official request from FC Barcelona about their desire for the establishment of an academy in Denmark , including specific information on what such a setup would contain , ' the DBU said in a statement . 'It is a precondition for the establishment of such an academy in Denmark that it obtains the approval of the DBU . ' The DBU 's head of grassroots soccer Steen Joergensen expressed concern over the well-being of children and that Danish junior football could become a hotbed of competition between elite academies as youngsters chase the dream of turning professional . Former Denmark international Michael Laudrup played for Barcelona between 1989 and 1994 . 'For us it is important that FC Barcelona , like all others , manage to take care of both the child and the talent , so that there wo n't be tough competition with focus on the potential economic gain at too early an age , ' he said in a statement . 'It is initially about childrens ' well-being , happiness and security , which in our opinion are fundamental prerequisites for the development of children . ' 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 his trade . 'We are going to give a plus to Denmark , not to steal talents . We will develop and demonstrate our method , and then we will learn from Danish football , ' he said .
The FCBEscola academy will be based 16km north-west of Copenhagen . Former Barcelona player Allan Simonsen says it will offer young players 'an entirely different philosophy ' Michael Laudrup and Simonsen both represented the Catalan giants . The Danish FA say they have not had an official request from Barcelona . 11.30 BST: