El Clásico tourists

Retired FC Barcelona and Real Madrid soccer stars tour Jaffa

Brazilians Ronaldinho Roberto Carlos and Rivaldo among visiting soccer stars, along with Portuguese Luís Figo

Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center

  • Retired players from Spanish soccer league rivals FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF toured the ancient port city of Jaffa on July 20, 2021, ahead of the planned exhibition match at Jaffa's Bloomfield Stadium. (Courtesy: Guy Yechiely)
    Retired players from Spanish soccer league rivals FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF toured the ancient port city of Jaffa on July 20, 2021, ahead of the planned exhibition match at Jaffa's Bloomfield Stadium. (Courtesy: Guy Yechiely)
  • Retired players from Spanish soccer league rivals FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF toured the ancient port city of Jaffa on July 20, 2021, ahead of the planned exhibition match at Jaffa's Bloomfield Stadium. (Courtesy: Guy Yechiely)
    Retired players from Spanish soccer league rivals FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF toured the ancient port city of Jaffa on July 20, 2021, ahead of the planned exhibition match at Jaffa's Bloomfield Stadium. (Courtesy: Guy Yechiely)
  • Retired players from Spanish soccer league rivals FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF toured the ancient port city of Jaffa on July 20, 2021, ahead of the planned exhibition match at Jaffa's Bloomfield Stadium. (Courtesy: Guy Yechiely)
    Retired players from Spanish soccer league rivals FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF toured the ancient port city of Jaffa on July 20, 2021, ahead of the planned exhibition match at Jaffa's Bloomfield Stadium. (Courtesy: Guy Yechiely)
  • Retired players from Spanish soccer league rivals FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF toured the ancient port city of Jaffa on July 20, 2021, ahead of the planned exhibition match at Jaffa's Bloomfield Stadium. (Courtesy: Guy Yechiely)
    Retired players from Spanish soccer league rivals FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF toured the ancient port city of Jaffa on July 20, 2021, ahead of the planned exhibition match at Jaffa's Bloomfield Stadium. (Courtesy: Guy Yechiely)
  • Retired players from Spanish soccer league rivals FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF toured the ancient port city of Jaffa on July 20, 2021, ahead of the planned exhibition match at Jaffa's Bloomfield Stadium. (Courtesy: Guy Yechiely)
    Retired players from Spanish soccer league rivals FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF toured the ancient port city of Jaffa on July 20, 2021, ahead of the planned exhibition match at Jaffa's Bloomfield Stadium. (Courtesy: Guy Yechiely)
  • Retired players from Spanish soccer league rivals FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF toured the ancient port city of Jaffa on July 20, 2021, ahead of the planned exhibition match at Jaffa's Bloomfield Stadium. (Courtesy: Guy Yechiely)
    Retired players from Spanish soccer league rivals FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF toured the ancient port city of Jaffa on July 20, 2021, ahead of the planned exhibition match at Jaffa's Bloomfield Stadium. (Courtesy: Guy Yechiely)

Retired players from Spanish soccer league rivals FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF toured the ancient port city of Jaffa on Tuesday, ahead of a planned exhibition match at Jaffa’s Bloomfield Stadium.

The tour took them to HaPisga Garden overlooking the Tel Aviv-Jaffa coastline, through the ancient streets of Old Jaffa and into the culinary scene of Jaffa’s Greek Market.

Among the former stars set to play in the Tuesday night match at 8 p.m. are Brazilians Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Deco, Javier Saviola, Ronald de Boer for FC Barcelona, and Luís Figo, Roberto Carlos, Ivan Campo and Alfonso for Real Madrid.

Games between the opposing clubs are referred to as “El Clásico” and the match at Tel Aviv’s Bloomfield Stadium will be called “El Clásico of Peace.”

The Barcelona team has been accompanied during its visit to the Tel Aviv-Jaffa area by club president Joan Laporta. Spanish goalkeeping great Iker Casillas will be a special guest at the match.

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