Laporta defends Miami plan and stresses Barcelona will gain financially – ‘We will be the biggest beneficiaries’ | OneFootball

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has addressed the controversy surrounding the Villarreal-Barcelona match held in Miami, a decision that sparked significant backlash from players and other La Liga teams.

Despite the criticism, Laporta defended the move, highlighting the financial and promotional benefits for the club.

While speaking during the General Assembly, he said, “We are not enthusiastic about the Miami issue, but we have to be involved in everything.

“The limits are set by the football management and Hansi Flick. Playing the Super Cup in Jeddah is profitable for the club.

“It gives us the pleasure of bringing in money, just like in Miami. Money will be made in Miami. Villarreal and Barça will be the biggest beneficiaries.

He went on to add, “The American market interests us. The tours were very profitable. This gives us the option of adding sponsors and promoting our image.

“Most of the funds that have financed Espai Barça are American. It is an important market and this summer they are organising the World Cup.

Laporta stressed that the focus is not only on immediate financial gains but also on expanding Barcelona’s global brand, particularly in the United States, which he described as a growing market for European football.

“Interest in the United States is growing. This is generating the emergence of sponsors.

“The NBA wants to come to Europe and wants to reach agreements with the Euroleague or set up a league itself. There is growing interest in European sport.”

Financial outlook and future plans

Joan Laporta once again defended the Miami clash. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Going into more detail, Laporta clarified that while Barcelona did not lose money with the Miami match, the club also did not initially budget for these earnings.

He explained, “The nuance is that we have stopped earning money, we have not lost money.

“But we will compensate for this with Montjuic and with the money from the match in Miami, which was not budgeted for.

He revealed that while the club has not received the complete details of the event, the proposition of hosting this tie on foreign soil goes beyond finances.

“La Liga still has to give us detailed information about the income from Miami. It will be much more than the revenue we would have had if we had played in Villarreal.

“I cannot give a figure that I have not yet been informed of. Just for going, Barça will receive money and there will be other items that will generate more money,” he explained.