Barcelona, March 27 (IANS): Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has said that Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff, who died on Thursday at 68, is one of people who "will live forever".

Perez on Saturday made his remarks when he arrived at a memorial space set up by Barcelona in the Camp Nou stadium grandstand to mark the passing of Cruyff, who died after a struggle with lung cancer, reports Efe.

"As I always say, there are people who I think should never die, and one of those is Johan Cruyff," the Real Madrid president said.

Perez was accompanied by Emilio Butragueño, Real Madrid director of institutional relations, and they were welcomed by Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Perez honoured a minute's silence before the image of Cruyff, stressing that the Dutch legend has changed the history of football, not just in Spain but around the world.

"My sentiments are with his family and all the Barcelona fans for their loss, but he is someone who will live forever," Perez added.