"Frenkie de Jong stands by comments opposing Barcelona's game against Villarreal being played in Miami but accepts players have to play where they are told. The Barça midfielder said last week that he did not like LaLiga's decision to take the fixture to the U.S., criticising more travel and acknowledging that playing an away game on neutral territory distorts the competition."
"Barça president Joan Laporta said he "respected" De Jong's opinion but that the possibility of growing in the North American market made the proposal a good one for the club. "Yes, I still think what I said and that hasn't changed," De Jong said at an event on Wednesday to mark signing a new contract with the Catalan club until 2029. "But we're players and at the end of the day we have to play wherever.""
Frenkie de Jong maintains opposition to relocating Barcelona's Villarreal fixture to Miami, citing increased travel and competitive distortion while acknowledging player obligations. Barcelona's president respects De Jong's view but values the opportunity to grow in the North American market. LaLiga obtained approvals from the RFEF and UEFA and scheduled Villarreal's home match at Hard Rock Stadium on Dec. 20, which would be the first domestic fixture from a European big-five league played abroad if held. De Jong extended his Barcelona contract until 2029 with reported slightly reduced terms compared with his previous backloaded pandemic deal.
Read at ESPN.com
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