Spain star the latest to criticise Barcelona & Villareal over USA plans: ‘Money ahead of fans’ | OneFootball

Spain star the latest to criticise Barcelona & Villareal over USA plans: ‘Money ahead of fans’ | OneFootball

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·9 October 2025

Spain star the latest to criticise Barcelona & Villareal over USA plans: ‘Money ahead of fans’

Article image:Spain star the latest to criticise Barcelona & Villareal over USA plans: ‘Money ahead of fans’

Athletic Club and Spain star Unai Simón has this become the latest high-profile figure to question the motivation behind Barcelona and Villarreal’s call to play out their upcoming La Liga fixture in the USA.

The impending meeting between Barca and Villarreal has of course taken its place centre stage in the headlines across Spain over the course of the week to date.


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This comes after UEFA reluctantly gave the green light for the two sides to face off in Miami in December.

This marks the first time in history that a Spanish top-flight fixture has been officially scheduled to take place outside of the country.

The move has since sparked widespread debate, with many having made clear their feelings that the legitimacy of the competition in La Liga is being brought into disrepute.

And in full agreement with this opinion, as alluded to above, is Spanish national team no.1 Unai Simón.

Drawn on the Villarreal-Barcelona controversy during an interview with El Larguero this week, Athletic Club standout Simón explained:

“Villarreal and Barça have put money ahead of their fans. This harms the fans and adulterates the competition. Barça won’t play on a neutral field in Miami because more than half of the stadium will be Barça’s.”

Conor Laird – GSFN

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