Barcelona president targets US market for growth

BERLIN, Mar 4 (Reuters) Barcelona president Joan Laporta, seeking to boost the club's revenue and overhaul rivals Real Madrid as soccer's top earners, is targeting the United States.

Asked by Germany's Der Spiegel magazine how Barcelona could expand, Laporta replied: ''Above all in new markets where there is not yet any competition but a lot of cash. For example in the United States.

''On the one hand we want to anchor Barca in the colleges and on the other form a partnership with a Major League club, maybe even in an official way with the Barca brand.'' Laporta has set lofty targets for the European and Spanish champions.

''As a universal brand we have to look to the whole world...to China, Japan, the Middle East, South America, Africa,'' he said.

''If an alien came to earth the first things I would want them to know would be Coca-Cola, Disney and Barca but there is work to be done.'' Real were top of world soccer's rich list in season 2005-06, earning 292.2 million euros (385 million dollar) compared with second-placed Barcelona on 259.1 million euros, according to a study by consultants Deloitte last month.

But the Catalan club's 25 percent revenue growth outstripped Real's six percent increase.

Laporta told Der Spiegel that Barcelona would earn 300 million euros in 2006-07.

Sevilla beat Barcelona 2-1 yesterday to replace the Catalans at the top of the Primera Liga.

Laporta's team visit Liverpool in the Champions League first knockout round on Tuesday, trailing 2-1 from the home leg.

REUTERS PDS BST2057