Barcelona rewrites winter plans: Morocco friendly scrapped, Camp Nou comeback on the horizon

Barcelona abandons Morocco-friendly plan and bets on Camp Nou comeback

A Spanish report today reveals Barcelona's final decision regarding a planned warm-up match in the Kingdom of Morocco.

Barça aimed to offset revenue lost by canceling the Miami game against Villarreal by staging a friendly outside Spain.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona has ruled out the Morocco option, which had been slated for Monday, December 22.

This decision stems from work regulations: an agreement between La Liga and the players’ union requires Barça players to return to Spain before midnight on December 22 to start the Christmas break the following day.

Logistical concerns also led to discarding a potential friendly in Peru, which would have added even more travel complications.

As a result, Barcelona will end the year with Villarreal only and will not schedule any additional matches inside or outside of Spain.

Home matches will be played at Camp Nou, starting with Athletic Bilbao, slated for next Saturday as part of La Liga matchday 13.

Camp Nou had not hosted a match for over two years due to renovation work.

Long-awaited decision

This official return follows a long string of delays and hurdles, with the Athletic Bilbao game seen as the first official home encounter since the stadium reopened.

Marca reports that Barça received clearance after securing Phase 1B authorization, allowing 45,401 spectators.

The club announced formal approval from a municipal committee in Barcelona, ending the fans’ wait.

Although coach Hans Flick and players trained in an open session on Friday with 23,000 fans under Phase 1A, the new license now permits larger crowds, making the Bilbao match the first official home game since the refit.

Return to Camp Nou had been postponed several times, notably during the Joan Gamper Trophy, disappointing the club’s supporters.

From the start, even the most optimistic expected the renovation to stretch longer than planned, with fans and board members led by Joan Laporta facing obstacles alike.

Management had hoped the return would coincide with the club’s 125th anniversary on November 29, 2024, in a symbolic unofficial match, but that milestone did not materialize.

The initial official date for a formal match was Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid on December 21, 2024, yet, as with earlier attempts, that date passed without a game. Today’s announcement finally confirms the reopening.

The club is now preparing Camp Nou to host Champions League fixtures, notably the December 9 clash with Eintracht Frankfurt, signaling a fresh chapter in Barça’s European campaign.

Cancelling the Miami game

La Liga announced the cancellation of the official Barcelona–Villarreal match planned in Miami due to Spain’s recent uncertainty and the promoter’s notification to halt the event.

The league expressed deep regret, insisting that moving Barça vs Villarreal outside Spain would have been a historic step toward internationalizing Spanish football and expanding its global footprint.

Officials argued the project would have boosted the international reach of clubs and players and strengthened the league’s brand value in a U.S. market of strategic importance.

The statement stressed the project complied with all rules and would not affect competition fairness, a stance also supported by sports authorities, despite concerns related to the broader implications.

La Liga warned that rejecting such ventures could hinder growth, especially as major competitions like the Premier League and Champions League push for greater global reach and resources.

The league thanked Barça and Villarreal for their cooperation and reaffirmed its commitment to promoting Spanish football globally, while continuing to pursue competitive balance for clubs, players, and fans.

Punchline 1: If patience were a trophy, Barça would have a cabinet full of it by now.

Punchline 2: The transfer window might be the calendar—always open just long enough to tease, then close right when the fans started believing in miracles.