Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong has shared his take on the decision to host their upcoming La Liga match against Villarreal in the United States.
On Wednesday, La Liga president Javier Tebas stated that Villarreal's home game against Barcelona will take place on December 20 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, which will mark to be the first time an official European league match will be played abroad.
UEFA has permitted the Spanish and Italian football federations to host league games abroad this season, with Barcelona and Villarreal to meet in the U.S. state of Florida. AC Milan and Como, meanwhile, are set to face each other in Australia.
This move by UEFA and the football federations has been introduced to further globalise the sport, while also expanding reach and brand value.
However, the decision has been on the receiving end of criticism from stars, coaches, and pundits, as it affects the players' welfare despite the commercial benefits.
In a recent conversation with Le Figaro, AC Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot expressed his disagreement with this move, referring to it as 'completely crazy,' and said,
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"I was surprised when I learned that AC Milan and I will be playing a Serie A match against Como… in Australia! It's completely crazy. These are financial agreements to give visibility to the league, things that are beyond us," as per GOAL.
"There's a lot of talk about schedules and player health, but this all seems truly absurd. It's crazy to travel so many miles for a match between two Italian teams in Australia. We have to adapt, as always."
Now, during the press conference ahead of the Netherlands' World Cup qualifier in Malta, De Jong has also opened up about Barcelona's trip to the US in December, candidly admitting he does not 'agree with it.'
"I don't like us going there, and I don't agree with it. It's not fair for the competition and I don't think it's right for the players given the long flight. For the clubs, it's about expanding their brand globally. That's probably what it's all about. We always complain about the match schedule and the excessive travel," as per GOAL.
"The clubs are going to get paid for this, but I don't agree with playing a league game in Miami. I understand that other clubs don't agree."
De Jong's comments were backed by former Barcelona manager and current Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman, who labelled the decision as 'ridiculous' and told reporters,
"It doesn't make any sense. It's ridiculous. Frenkie gives a good explanation. It's not fair. Villarreal-Barcelona is always a difficult away game for Barca, and now they're playing it on a neutral ground. There are more Barcelona fans in the stands than Villarreal fans. So it's not fair either."
What's next for Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong?
De Jong, who arrived at Barcelona from Ajax in 2019, has started in seven out of the eight appearances he has made for the Catalan club so far this season, during which he has provided an assist.
With his current deal at the Spanish giants set to expire next summer, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has reported that De Jong has given his approval to sign a contract with Barcelona that will keep him at the club until June 2029.
The report further suggested that an overall verbal agreement between the club and the player is in place, with formalities and official announcement pending.
Following the current international break, De Jong and Barcelona are set to return to La Liga action in their match against Girona on October 18.
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