Johan Cruyff: Barcelona to display giant mosaic at El Clasico in tribute to former player and coach after his death

Cruyff's former club will pay tribute to former player and coach Cruyff on Saturday 2 April before they face Real Madrid

Former Barcelona manager Johan Cruyff pictured in 1994 (Getty Images)

Barcelona will pay tribute to former player and manager Johan Cruyff ahead of their El Clasico encounter against Real Madrid on 2 April by planning a giant mosaic which will be displayed in the stands of the Nou Camp.

Cruyff passed away on Thursday at the age of 68 after what his official website described as a “hard fought battle with cancer” when they announced the tragic news on Thursday afternoon.

Tributes have flooded in from the sporting world and beyond, with the former Ajax and Barcelona star still widely considered as one of the greatest players to have graced the game, having mastered the art of ‘Total Football’ during his rise to stardom in the 1970s.

Dutch side Feyenoord halted their friendly with Sparta Rotterdam in the 14th minute in order to hold a minute's applause in Cruyff’s memory, following a period of silence before the match, and Barcelona have already started putting plans in place to honour Cruyff.

A chapel of rest will be set-up from Saturday for fans to attend, and a giant mosaic will be created with an image of Cruyff on that will be displayed by fans ahead of next Saturday’s derby with fierce rivals Real.

The entire Barcelona roster – featuring players, staff and all academy members – gathered on the club’s Mini Estadi training complex, situated next to the Nou Camp, to hold a moment of silence.

Flags were flown at half-mast at Barcelona's training complex on Thursday (Getty Images)

Tributes and flowers were left outside the Nou Camp in Cruyff's memory (Getty Images)

A statement remembering Cruyff was posted on the Barcelona website, which read: "FC Barcelona would like to express its pain and sorrow at the passing away of Johan Cruyff (Amsterdam, 25/04/1947 - Barcelona, 24/03/2016), who was both an FC Barcelona player and a coach and who will forever be a legend at the Club.

"FC Barcelona wishes to send its most heartfelt sympathy to Johan Cruyff’s family at such a painful moment, a sentiment which the Club members, fans and the whole world of football and sport will share.

"Rest in peace. Thank you Johan."