FC Barcelona is experiencing days of transition. It has already been decided that the first team won't return to Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc. The board is already working with specific dates for the return to Camp Nou, which will partially reopen its doors, and this time for real, at the end of September.
Johan Cruyff, with a limited capacity of 6,000 spectators, will be the bridge stadium in this process. Barça will play its next league match there against Valencia, then against Getafe. Meanwhile, preparations are being finalized for the inauguration of a renovated Camp Nou.
The conflict with Valencia, solved
One of the recent controversies involved the distribution of tickets. From Valencia, Barça had been accused of wanting to keep all 6,000 seats at Johan Cruyff exclusively for its season ticket holders. The situation caused criticism and even threats to challenge the match.
In the end, the blaugrana club decided to comply with the regulations and give Valencia 5% of the tickets, that is, 290 seats. With this measure, Barça responds to the attacks received and avoids an institutional war that could escalate in LaLiga's offices.
Definitive goodbye to Montjuïc
The return to Camp Nou is a top priority for Joan Laporta's board. After months of discomfort at Montjuïc, the club has decided not to return to Estadi Olímpic under any circumstances.
The last match played there will serve as the end of a provisional stage that never convinced Barcelona fans. Now, Johan Cruyff will take over for the next few weeks, before the return to Camp Nou.
The pressure from sponsors
Beyond the sporting aspect, Barça needs to return to its stadium as soon as possible. The agreements signed with sponsors are clear: Camp Nou must be available for events, matches, and for the use of VIP boxes.
Laporta is in a hurry to meet those conditions. The revenue associated with these agreements is essential to balance the accounts. Above all, so LaLiga considers them valid under financial fair play.
Without that billing, the margin for new operations would be severely reduced.
The date marked in red
The schedule is already set. After the match against Getafe at Johan Cruyff, Barça will return to its temple on September 28. The opponent will be Real Sociedad.
That day, the new Camp Nou will open its doors and an uncomfortable journey that lasted longer than expected will come to an end.
Barcelona fans are already counting the days to return home. The wait has been long, but the reward promises to be historic.