The Valencia CF squad received a visit from Spanish magician Jorge Blass this week, to be shown a series of tricks that left them amazed.

Blass is a famous figure in the world of magic, with accolades including the La Baguette d'Or de Monte Carlo and SARMOTI awards for the most promising talent in Las Vegas, the first International Magic Award in Portugal and the Frakson award for magician of the year in 1996. In addition to this, he has performanced with illusionists such as David Copperfield and Juan Tamariz.

“It has been fantastic to visit the Ciudad Deportiva and get to know the players in person. They have magic amongst them. I have transferred to them some principles of our art: Making visible what seems impossible. That is, in some way, what they achieve on the pitch with their 'magic,'” says Blass.

“You can see that they have a very close connection. The magic tricks proved that, such as when I touched one and the other felt it, or when I wrote a cross on one player and the other had the same cross. That also helps them understand their connection as a team,” explained the magician.