October 14, (THEWILL) – Barcelona are looking into the possibility of playing a friendly match in the United States during the mid-season break, as a way to generate additional revenue.
The storied Spanish club has faced well-publicised financial difficulties in recent years, most notably being unable to re-sign star, Lionel Messi, before he moved to Paris Saint-Germain due to La Liga salary restrictions. President, Joan Laporta, spent much of 2022 restructuring the club’s debt, but Barcelona still found themselves in a precarious money situation.
With the team’s ongoing stadium renovations and relatively quiet 2022 summer transfer window, Barcelona are in need of new income streams. Spanish radio station Cadena SER says the club is in discussions about potentially scheduling a friendly match in the US in early December or during the La Liga winter break later that month.
Head coach, Xavi Hernandez, has reportedly given his approval for such a match, understanding the club’s financial motivations. The opponent would likely be a Mexican club or MLS team. Barcelona held their 2022 preseason tour in the US, facing rivals, Real Madrid and Juventus.
Securing a new midseason friendly in America would provide Barcelona with a vital influx of funds as they continue to rebuild their finances and reestablish themselves as a European powerhouse.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
