Barcelona have hit upon a novel way of funding the rising cost of renovating their Camp Nou home: charging fans almost £9,000 to have their ashes laid to rest at the stadium.

The Memorial FC Barcelona will consist of a room in the iconic ground with space for 26,000 people’s remains to be stored alongside a mural of key moments in the club’s storied history.

Prices start from £2,000 for 10 years and rise to £5,000 for 50 years or £8,700 to be a permanent fixture and have your own plaque. The club says 1,000 die-hards have already reserved a place.

Barcelona’s institutional vice-president, Maria Elena Fort, said: “When my grandfather died many years ago, he said the only thing he wanted was to be buried next to Barca’s pitch so that he could hear the goals go in during the afterlife. Many fans dream of the same thing.”

The columbarium is being designed by architect Quique Montoya and is a collaboration between the club and company Mes Que Un Memorial.

Barcelona’s promotional materials state: “The Memorial was born with the aim to acknowledge that bond and provide a place to preserve the personal and family memories that are also part of blaugrana history.

“Two ways of paying tribute and showing remembrance will be available through placing a loved one’s ashes in a columbarium or writing a name and message on a commemorative plaque in the stadium. Both options are available to FC Barcelona fans worldwide, there is no need to be a member.”

Barcelona’s Camp Nou costs rise to £1.5bn

Barcelona’s modernisation of Camp Nou has been hampered by delays and rising costs that have seen the budget more than double to more than £1.5bn.

The Spanish champions, one of the richest clubs in football, have moved back into their world-famous home despite capacity being restricted while the upper tier is being constructed.

Barca will have to move out again temporarily next season while the roof is put in place on the stadium, which will hold 105,000 fans – the biggest in Europe.

The completed Camp Nou is one of three candidates to stage the 2034 World Cup final, which is due to be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

Real Madrid’s Bernabeu Stadium and the Grand Stade Hassan II currently being built near Casablanca, which will have a world record capacity of 115,000, are the other contenders.

The decision has aggravated tensions between Spain and Morocco, with prime ministerial hopeful Alberto Nunez Feijoo threatening to pull out of hosting the tournament altogether if the final is awarded to its North African neighbours.