In a latest move, La Liga has plans to bring Barcelona’s big matches to the US.
La Liga is planning to host a December match between two of the league’s biggest clubs – FC Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid, in the United States, according to Relevo .
La Liga president Javier Tebas previously attempted to make a similar move for the match between Girona and Barcelona in January 2019, but was met with opposition from the players’ union and then-Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales, along with opposition from fans.
There was another failed attempt to stage a match between Villarreal and Atletico Madrid on 8 December that year. However, on 15 November, a Madrid court blocked the staging of a La Liga match abroad, reminding La Liga that any action needed to be coordinated with the RFEF.
With Rubiales no longer a barrier, Tebas is starting to put plans in motion for a first event in the tournament’s 95-year history.
Relevo revealed that the La Liga president wants to hold the match of round 18 between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at Hard Rock Stadium, the home ground of Inter Miami – where Lionel Messi and former Barca stars such as Busquets, Alba and Suarez are playing here. The match is scheduled to take place from December 20 to 22. This move could bring Lionel Messi to reunite with his old team Barcelona after 3 years away.
The Spanish news site also said that both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid supported Tebas’ proposal, which would bring significant financial resources to all parties involved.
Barcelona are hoping to return to the newly renovated Camp Nou in the first quarter of 2025, with the match being held abroad to save one game at Montjuic, which has been the Catalans’ temporary home since the start of last season.
Tebas has other ideas in mind, with plans to bring Barcelona and Atletico Madrid into a friendly tournament, alongside foreign clubs, in Abu Dhabi in early January 2025.
This could once again cause conflict with the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) as the Spanish Super Cup usually takes place in Saudi Arabia around this time, leading to the possibility of a scheduling conflict.