FC Barcelona are set to play their first-ever La Liga match outdoors of Spain, with their conflict in opposition to Villarreal being moved to Miami — a choice that sparked a powerful response from captain Frenkie de Jong. After the midfielder publicly voiced his disagreement with the league’s plan, membership president Joan Laporta made his stance clear.
On Wednesday, October 8, La Liga president Javier Tebas confirmed that the Matchday 17 fixture of the 2025–26 season between Barcelona and Villarreal shall be held in Miami. The sport, scheduled for December 20, has already stirred controversy, significantly amongst gamers and golf equipment straight affected by the transfer.
At the moment on worldwide obligation with the Netherlands, De Jong was requested Thursday concerning the new initiative, and he didn’t maintain again: “I don’t prefer it. I can perceive the golf equipment financially, they may in fact revenue from it, and so they can unfold their model additional internationally. However I wouldn’t do it.“
The Dutch midfielder additionally defined how the venue change impacts not solely the gamers but in addition the integrity of the competitors. “It’s not good for the gamers. You must journey so much. It’s additionally not truthful when it comes to competitors. For us, it’s now an away match on impartial floor. I completely perceive if different golf equipment aren’t blissful about that,” he concluded.
FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta.
Along with his contract at Barça set to run out on the finish of the 2025–26 season, De Jong additionally addressed his renewal talks with the membership: “As I all the time say, I’m going to resume my contract with Barcelona. We’re very shut. When there’s actual information, you’ll discover out, however for now I can’t say something.”
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De Jong has been a key determine in Barcelona’s midfield alongside Pedri, and after becoming a member of the membership in 2019, he now holds the captain’s armband. With the RFEF (Spanish FA), La Liga, and UEFA already approving the change of venue, solely CONCACAF’s approval stays, because the confederation will host the match.
Joan Laporta’s response to De Jong
De Jong’s feedback rapidly went viral, because the Barcelona captain brazenly opposed the concept of enjoying a La Liga recreation outdoors Spain. Nevertheless, this state of affairs has lengthy been on the membership’s radar — final 12 months, Barca got here near transferring their match in opposition to Atlético Madrid to U.S. soil, although the plan in the end fell via.
With the required approvals now in place, Barcelona president Joan Laporta made the membership’s place clear: “If La Liga tells us to go play in Miami, we imagine it’s La Liga that governs the competitors, and we’ll go play in Miami. I perceive the reactions which have come up — from gamers and others. I do know our captain, De Jong, stated it’s not one thing he significantly likes, however the competitions are those that regulate all of this.”
Laporta concluded by emphasizing that the main focus stays on successful. “In that sense, we’ll go play the match wherever they inform us to, as a result of what we wish is to win the three factors. And I hope we do, in order that we will hold including to our tally in La Liga,” Laporta concluded.
