‘There has been no unanimity’ – Real Madrid boss makes feelings clear on Villarreal-Barcelona match in Miami | OneFootball

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso addressed the media ahead of his team’s upcoming La Liga clash against Getafe, and unsurprisingly, one of the hottest topics on the agenda was the highly-debated Villarreal vs Barcelona match set to take place in Miami.

Barcelona’s potential league fixture being moved to the United States has divided Spanish football.

While La Liga president Javier Tebas continues to push the idea as a way to globalise the league, several clubs, including Real Madrid, have voiced strong opposition, calling it a move that goes against sporting integrity.

On Sunday at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez, Real Madrid are expected to take part in a symbolic protest initiated by the Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE).

Players will pause for the opening seconds of the ninth round of La Liga matches in response to what they describe as an attempt to “distort the competition.”

What did Alonso say?

Speaking at his press conference, Alonso made his position clear by stating,

“My opinion is the same as it was two months ago. We are against the match because it distorts the competition.

Alonso is against the idea of this match. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

“There has been no unanimity for it to be played on neutral ground and there has been no consultation,” said Xabi Alonso.

The Real Madrid boss confirmed that his players would join the protests already started by Real Oviedo and Espanyol, both of whom expressed their disapproval of the proposed overseas match. Alonso explained,

“The protests are positive because they show how many clubs feel. We are against this decision being taken unilaterally.

“It could happen if there was unanimity among all the clubs, but that is not the case.”

When asked whether Real Madrid would consider going on strike on the final day of 2025 – the same period the Villarreal vs Barcelona fixture is expected to take place in Miami – Alonso chose not to go into detail, but remained firm in his stance.

“Our position is the same. The decisions that need to be made to prevent this from happening are probably up to other people, but our position is the same,” he insisted.

For Barcelona, this controversy adds another layer of distraction ahead of a demanding run of fixtures.

While they are focused on their footballing objectives, the broader discussion surrounding the match highlights just how polarising this decision has become within Spanish football.

Source: Mundo Deportivo