Javier del Rio, Head of La Liga Nigeria Office, on Wednesday, in Abuja said the Spanish league organisers have been working closely with the League Management Company.

Del Rio said the close relationship with the Nigeria Professional Football League organisers was aimed at establishing a proper youth structure for Nigerian clubs.

He said this was crucial to developing the league and producing world-class footballers for Nigeria.

“The NPFL is capable of producing the next Lionel Messi or Andres Iniesta (graduates of the FC Barcelona academy) or those better than they are if a proper youth system is established with the NPFL clubs,” Del Rio said.

He said there was a need for grassroots development for the Nigerian league to grow.

“Nigeria has a lot of talents, but the problem has been how to discover them early, harness and mould them into world-class stars,” the La Liga official said.

He said La Liga, in conjunction with LMC, was trying to replicate the Spanish La Liga model in the NPFL to develop the league and make it more attractive.

“Since our partnership came into being in 2016, several workshops have taken place which have helped set up a proper roadmap for the league.