Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi has admitted that he and his teammates were not on board with the idea of playing a Liga match in Miami this December. The Catalan giants were set to travel to face Villarreal for their last league game of the year, but it will now take place at La Ceramica, after promoters Relevent pulled the plug on the game on Tuesday night.
It has sparked a variety of reactions, with Villarreal unhappy about La Liga’s handling of the matter, La Liga unhappy with the decision, and Real Madrid delighted that the plan will not go ahead. Barcelona vice-captain Frenkie de Jong admitted last week that he was against the idea, and Cubarsi told Diario AS that this was the general feeling in the squad.
“We were all a little against going abroad because the league has to be played here. As a footballer, I don’t have to get too involved in this issue.”
How Barcelona are approaching El Clasico
Cubarsi was present at a publicity event for Barcelona following an agreement with Uber. Much of the attention was on El Clasico this weekend, as the Catalan giants travel to the Santiago Bernabeu. Cubarsi was asked what the keys to victory were.
Marcus Rashford can’t wait for El Clásico. Fresh off a brace against Olympiacos, the English forward arrives at the Bernabéu in top form and full of confidence. “I came to Barça for games like this”, he said after what he called his best performance yet. @sport pic.twitter.com/vCSu6KJfSM
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) October 22, 2025
“Continue with our philosophy. Last year went well. Now the teams have evolved. We need to tweak a few things that will allow us to improve.”
“We’re just focused on playing a good game and getting the three points. We want to be top of the table because that would give us an advantage. The fans like the little hand [five goals], but we’re relaxed. We want to score a lot of goals and keep a clean sheet.”
With Kylian Mbappe and without Hansi Flick
The Blaugrana will have to limit Kylian Mbappe in order to do so – the French forward is the form player this season in La Liga.
“Everyone knows who Mbappe is. We have to keep an eye on him and all the Real Madrid players, who are world-class. By tweaking a few things, it should go well. We’ll have to stop him in the best way possible, but especially focus on ourselves,” he noted, perhaps alluding to their high pressure and stopping the service.
Meanwhile Barcelona look as if they will be without manager Hansi Flick, after he was handed a one-game ban for his red card last weekend.
“He’s important on and off the pitch. We have a good staff and we can replace them. I couldn’t say if that’s true or not if he was talking to Frenkie. What we want is for him to help us from within; and if not, from outside.”
Barcelona are launching an appeal against the decision, feeling that referee Jesus Gil was overzealous in his handing out of a second yellow. In all likelihood, the Blaugrana will be without their guiding voice at the Bernabeu though.
