FC Barcelona has given its approval to play an official LaLiga match in Miami. It has accepted Javier Tebas's proposal and has sparked a storm of mixed opinions in Spanish soccer.
It will be matchday 19 and Barça will play against Villarreal in the United States.
The club insists that this is a strategic decision. However, the truth is that there is a very specific figure behind it... and some extra benefit that isn't included in the official contract.
The event in the United States will be historic: a LaLiga match on North American soil, with Barça as the visiting team on paper. However, there will be a sense of playing at home thanks to the huge "culé" community in Miami, strongly influenced by the Messi phenomenon.
The economic agreement
The "blaugrana" club will receive €6 million for accepting the proposal. This isn't a minor figure considering the club's financial situation. In addition, it will play as the visiting team and will receive income as if it were selling tickets as the home team.
However, that's not all Laporta has achieved. Sources close to the negotiation have told MB that, in addition to the payment, there is a verbal commitment from LaLiga. This would involve lowering the level of requirements for registering Barça's players this season.
This gesture comes at a critical moment, with eight footballers waiting to be registered just days before the league debut.
An "obedient" gesture
Within the club's environment, people are talking about an "obedient" stance from Laporta toward Tebas. This contrasts with the tensions that both have shown in the past.
The reality is that, in a summer marked by the salary cap, guaranteeing the registration of signings like Rashford, Joan García, or several renewed players is an absolute priority.
Accepting the trip to Miami—with all that it means in terms of logistics and scheduling—has been interpreted as a way to ease relations and obtain an immediate benefit for the team.
Reactions and discontent in Madrid
The decision hasn't been well received in every corner of Spanish soccer. At Real Madrid, for example, there is discontent for two reasons. First, because they believe Barça will play "as the home team" in a match where, officially, it is the visitor.
Second, because the opponent in question will no longer host them in its stadium, one of the most difficult places to earn points in all of LaLiga.
In addition, the international trip breaks the competition routine and opens a debate about the sporting balance of the season. Not all clubs are willing to accept that an official match is moved thousands of kilometers (kilómetros) away from their local fans.
Miami, "culé" territory
Beyond money and politics, Barça knows that it will have massive support from its fans in Miami. The bond with the city has been strengthened since Messi's arrival at Inter Miami. The "blaugrana" community in Florida sees the event as a historic occasion.
For Laporta, the trip combines revenue, competitive advantages, and a boost to international image. For its critics, it's an excessive concession to Tebas's interests. What is clear is that this match goes far beyond the 90 minutes.