- The renovated Camp Nou was planned to reopen last November before delays
- Barcelona’s license Olympic Stadium expires in April and are unable to renew
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Barcelona are reportedly considering hosting the next El Clasico abroad amid complications over their return to the Camp Nou.
The LaLiga giants, who had initially hoped to unveil the newly-renovated £1.25billion Nou stadium as part of the club’s 125th anniversary on November 29, have already been forced to push back their return.
In November, the Catalans confirmed they will continue to play matches at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys amid uncertainty over when Campo Nou will reopen.
However their license at the current ground expires in April and they are unable to extend it due planned concerts in May.
Barcelona host Real Madrid on May 11, and given the difficult scenario they are facing, the showdown could take place abroad according to AS.
The report states that another major European city could play hosts if the new Camp Nou is not completed in the coming months.
Barcelona are considering hosting the next El Clasico at another major European city
The Catalans’ at the temporary Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys expires in April
La Liga and the Spanish FA will have to approve of the plan – but they have not been made aware of it yet
Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga, has made no secret of wanting to play a league fixture abroad.
There were plans for Barcelona to host Atletico Madrid in Miami last December before it was scrapped.
The Spanish FA has previously opposed the idea of taking a competitive fixture abroad. La Liga made two failed attempts in 2019 to play one of its fixtures on US soil but they were both while Luis Rubiales was Spanish FA president.
La Liga tried without success to move Girona v Barcelona, and subsequently Villarreal v Atletico Madrid away from Spain. In the post-Rubiales era there is more optimism that La Liga would be backed by Spain’s national association.
FIFA have always opposed the idea. The world governing body’s rules state that official league games must be played within the territory of the respective member association.
Barcelona had initially hoped to unveil the newly-renovated Campo Nou on November 29
Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga, has made no secret of wanting to play a league fixture abroad
Meanwhile a report by Spanish outlet Marca last month claimed Barcelona’s board are accepting it will take a ‘miracle’ to return in time for the new March deadline, with the Spotify Camp Nou still a building site.
Barcelona are firmly expecting to remain away from the club’s stadium for the remainder of the season — and may not return in time for the start of next campaign.
It is claimed that emergency exit plans and turf laying are well behind schedule in particular.
The Catalan club first moved out of the Nou Camp back in May 2023 so they could start the major renovation of their 67-year-old stadium.
The iconic arena was disembowelled to the bare bones with only a concrete skeleton remaining, removing the entire top tier in order to rebuild the third one and increase capacity by 6,000 seats.
When completed, the Spotify Nou Camp will be the largest sports venue in Europe.
