BARCELONA have invited Florida school shooting hero Anthony Borges to meet Lionel Messi and the rest of their squad.
The teen was shot five times in his back and limbs and he barricaded a door to shield his classmates from shooter Nikolas Cruz, who killed 17 people.
And after a crowdfunding page was set up for Borges, 15, to help pay his for medical treatment, Barca have stepped in.
They sent a signed shirt to the hospital and will foot the bills for his stay.
Borges – who spent two months at the club’s academy in Lauderhill in 2016 – has always dreamed of travelling to Barcelona to meet his heroes.
And he will now get his wish in a heartwarming gesture.
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A Barcelona statement read: “It was journalist Santiago Segurola who set things in motion.
“He informed the club of the situation, and Barca immediately offered the support of its own medical services to help ensure that Anthony gets all the surgery he needs to get back to enjoying one of his greatest passions, playing soccer, as soon as possible.
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“Now in hospital recovering, one of Anthony’s greatest dreams has always been to travel to Barcelona and meet the first team players.
“And as the club told his father Royer on the phone this week, it would be more than happy to help with that.”
Anthony Borges
A Barça hero pic.twitter.com/iojcw7Py3h— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 1, 2018
Dad Royer Borges added: “I thank Barca for all their support and for going to all this trouble to help cheer up my son.
“I understand that the club’s doctors also helped with his recovery.
“He never expected Barca to do this. Neither did I.
“When he was about to go in for surgery, by chance I heard the voicemail, because I couldn’t receive calls, and put the phone on loudspeaker so he could hear the message. He was smiling so much.”
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