Jordi Cruyff, who played for both Manchester United and Barcelona, has branded the meeting of the two clubs in the Europa League as “spectacular”.
The pair were drawn together in the competition’s knockout play-off round, which United entered after failing to top their group and Barcelona, by finishing third in their Champions League group.
After coming through the youth ranks at La Masia and playing 53 first-team games, Cruyff - son of the legendary Johan - made a £2m move to Old Trafford in 1996 and went on to play 58 matches prior to his exit to Alaves in 2000 via a loan stop at Celta Vigo.
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Now sporting director at Barcelona, Cruyff said he was looking forward to revisiting United, and outlined how his club will approach both legs with "optimism". He told Mundo Deportivo: “It is a spectacular tie for the neutral fan.
“It could be a crossover of the Champions League, two big clubs, with the potential to win anything. It is a difficult tie, but we must face it with optimism to pass and go far in this competition.”
Cruyff featured in two of the 13 matches ever played between the two clubs, featuring twice for Barcelona in the 1994/95 Champions League group stage. And he is well aware of the danger United poses today too, noting the progress they have made under Erik ten Hag.
“It is a team with a lot of history. Now they have a new coach, to make a new path. It has a large audience and a stadium that tightens. It’s a big club and we will both do our best [to progress].”
The two clubs last met in the 2019 Champions League quarter-finals, when the Spaniards ran out 4-0 winners over both legs. United have lost the last four meetings with the Nou Camp outfit.
Their last win came in the 2008 semi-finals as the Reds ran out 1-0 aggregate winners before famously beating Chelsea on penalties in the final in Moscow.
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