Updated July 18, 2021, 10:57 a.m.
- The top Spanish league, La Liga, is one of the best leagues in the world.
- Their figureheads are clubs like Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and champions Atletico Madrid. Players like Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos or Joao Felix inspire the audience.
- Those in charge are trying to make the league even more attractive and have some ideas ready.
The news caused a stir in the past few days: The Spanish association wants to consider change the league mode. Compared to the Europapress news agency said Luis Rubiales, President of the Spanish Football Association, that he wants to meet with league boss Javier Tebas and discuss the future of the league’s format. Part of the mind game are games abroad and a reduction in league games.
“We need fewer game days, more spectacle. We have to come up with something and capture the attention of the youngest with a lot of emotions,” said Sky Rubiales as saying. The president of the football association indicated that a move away from the system with home and away games is possible so that the games become a bigger highlight. In addition, it is conceivable that occasional games could also be played abroad.
Fewer league games would mean that travel stresses could be better dealt with during the season. The news hit the Spanish media like a bomb. However, it is currently unclear whether these thoughts were of spontaneous origin or whether Rubiales has already approached other leaders of the Spanish league or the clubs.
Also read: Professional debut at the age of 15: record broken after almost 81 years
Games abroad are not a new phenomenon
The Supercopa de Espana proves that it is not new in Spain to play games abroad. A game outside took place here for the first time in 2018 Spain instead of. In the case of the equivalent of the German Supercup, in which champions and cup winners or vice-champions face each other, the association made the decision to have the game take place in Morocco. The FC Barcelona beat Sevilla 2-1 at the time. Hosting this one game abroad gave those responsible a taste for it.
From 2019 the Supercopa in Spain was expanded, four teams are fighting for the title. In January 2020, the tournament finally took place in Saudi Arabia. After two semi-finals met Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah in front of almost 60,000 enthusiastic spectators. The goal was obvious, the league and the clubs wanted to open up new markets. Only in the last season had to be played again in Spain due to the corona pandemic.
League boss Javier Tebas: Messi for attractiveness
Of course, the best players in the world also contribute to the attractiveness of a league. Above all, Lionel Messi should be mentioned. The FC Barcelona superstar triumphed at the Copa America with Argentina, taking the title there. But it is current Messi Without a club, because his contract with the Catalans expired on June 30th. A contract extension is difficult, because there is a salary cap in La Liga, the financial situation at the top club is very tense and even newcomers like Memphis Depay had to forego part of their salary in order to be signed.
But here, too, it shows that it is in the interests of the league boss Tebas to keep the league’s figurehead. As early as the beginning of July, the newspaper “Sport” (which is closely related to FC Barcelona) reported on a meeting between the same Tebas and Joan Laporta, the new president of the club. The aim of this meeting was to find a solution to the problem of the salary limit. It can at least be described as unusual for such a meeting to take place in this form.
Salary, Sales and More: The Messi Cause
Obviously, this exchange was crowned with success as there has been some progress in extending Messi’s contract. At the moment it only seems a matter of days before the Argentine will sign a new contract.
The player has one Wage cut by 50% approved, the release clause is said to be 350 million euros. Nevertheless, some precautions still need to be taken, because a cut in Messi’s salary alone will not solve the problems.
FC Barcelona have signed three players, Sergio Agüero, Memphis Depay and Eric Garcia, on a free transfer, plus Emerson Royal’s return campaign. In order to be able to register all players including Messi and, if necessary, to act again, further departures are absolutely necessary after the three sales so far.
Antoine Griezmann, Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembele, Miralem Pjanic: even big names are not safe. So there is still a lot of work waiting for those responsible. After all, Messi will continue to wear the Catalans jersey and La Liga appeal, quite to the delight of Javier Tebas, also hold up in the future.
Sources used:
- Sky Sport: will Real soon be playing in Miami? Spanish association wants to change league mode
- Original: Europapress-Artikel: Rubiales asks “to change the format of LaLiga” and opens the door to play it abroad
- Sport.es: The numbers behind Lionel Messi’s contract renewal
- Sport.es: Laporta & Tebas to hold key meeting in relation to Messi’s Barcelona future
.
