He’s made the high-octane Jason Bourne movies, and politically engaged films about 9/11 and Bloody Sunday. Now the British director Paul Greengrass is to direct a documentary about the world’s greatest current exponents of the “beautiful game”, Barcelona.

Barça, which is in pre-production, will cover the four-year period in which the Spaniards have become the most admired club side in the world. “I'm excited to tell the extraordinary story of Barça and their magnificent achievements under Pep Guardiola on film,” commented Greengrass, a life-long supporter of London side Crystal Palace. “They have given the world a rare glimpse of sporting perfection, and memories that will last for as long as the game is played."