GIRONA HAVE ACCEPTED a La Liga proposal to face Barcelona in the United States, adamant it represents a “great possibility of and expansion” for their club and city.
La Liga announced in mid-August they had struck a groundbreaking deal with multinational media, sports and entertainment company Relevent that will boost the competition in North America and see a Spanish top-flight match played in the United States for the first time.
Such a move has been met with staunch opposition, particularly from the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE), who accused the league of dispensing “with the opinion of the players and engages them in actions that only benefit them”.
AFE’s president David Aganzo, a former Spain U21 international and Real Madrid youth product, then accused LaLiga of trying to use footballers as “a currency”.
Despite a threat of players taking strike action if a USA-based match was confirmed, reports began circulating on Wednesday that the game in question was to be Girona against Barcelona.
And Girona confirmed that, not only have they been approached, but they have gone as far as accepting the proposal to host Barca away from their own stadium.
A statement on the club’s website read: “The club confirms that it has received this proposal from LaLiga and is working in this line together with La Liga and Barca, although there is no official confirmation that the game is will be played in Miami.
“The club has accepted the proposal understanding that it is a great possibility of expansion and growth, not only for Girona, but also for our city and our territory.
“A little over three years ago, the club fought against disappearing entirely and now our goal is to consolidate ourselves in La Liga.
“This action would be another step within the idea of competing in the elite of football after the effort we have all made in recent years and that has led us to La Liga.”
Girona’s home match with Barca has initially been scheduled for 26 January, but that could change should the game be relocated.
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