Iconic stadium looks unrecognisable with army of cranes at work and dozens of builders amid concerns over progress

THE NOU CAMP looks unrecognisable as work on its £1BILLION renovation project continues.

Barcelona‘s home ground has been one of football’s most iconic stadium for more than 60 years.

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The Nou Camp looks unrecognisable as work continues on the ground[/caption]

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The renovations are set to cost around £1billion[/caption]

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It is hard to believe it is the same iconic venue[/caption]

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Barcelona are not set to move back into the stadium until the 2025/26 season[/caption]

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It is expected to hold around 105,000 people[/caption]

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The stadium is a legendary venue in the Spanish city[/caption]

First built in 1957, it’s played host to numerous legendary matches in front of a bumper crowd of nearly 100,000 people.

But the project to modernise the facilities has left it utterly decimated.

The construction has seen the third tier of the stadium completely removed.

All the seats have been torn out as dozens of workers use cranes to work in the dusty surroundings.

Barcelona have been forced to relocate for this season and are playing their home games at the Estadi Lluis Companys Stadium – which holds a maximum of just under 56,000 people.

Work began on the Nou Camp renovations in June last year and it is not expected to be completed until the start of the 2025/26 campaign.

However, there are concerns it may not be done in time after a setback with obtaining the necessary licence.

Barcelona’s plans will see the capacity of the ground expanded to an incredible 105,000 people.

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CGI mock-ups showed how the stadium will eventually look with a roof being added and a modernised vibe given to the ageing arena.

Previously the upper tier of the Camp Nou only sat on 50 per cent of the stadium, but the new works will see the new stand curve all the way around the ground.

Designs released by the club also showed the roof will be plastered with the name of their stadium sponsor, Spotify.

But manager Xavi will not lead Barcelona out at the newly-renovated Nou Camp.

The iconic midfielder confirmed last month that he will leave the club at the end of the season.

Barcelona are eight points adrift of Real Madrid at the top of the LaLiga table and out of the Copa del Rey.

The will face Napoli in the last 16 of the Champions League, but Xavi has already insisted he will depart in the summer.

He said: “I will leave Barcelona in June.

“We have reached a point of no return. It’s time for change.

“As a Cule, I think that it’s time to leave. I spoke with the board and the club today. I will leave on the 30th of June.”

He went on to add: “I took this decision days ago. I already knew it. But it’s time to make it public.

“I think the players could not free themselves up. I don’t want to be a problem for the club, but the opposite.”

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The third tier of the stadium has been completely ripped up[/caption]

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A roof is also being added the the ground[/caption]