Barcelona turn down Tangier friendly despite €4.5m financial cost

Barcelona have officially decided not to play a proposed friendly in Tangier, Morocco, on 15 August, with the club citing uncertainty following events in the city of Ceuta.

The Catalan club had been offered the fixture as part of preparations for the new season, but has concluded that the current circumstances make it inappropriate to travel to Morocco and take part in the match.

Barcelona explained its position in a statement published on the club’s official website.

“Given the uncertainty and current circumstances, the club believes that playing the match would be inappropriate,” the statement said.

The decision comes after what the source article describes as “unfortunate events” in Ceuta, the Spanish autonomous city on the north coast of Africa. More than 70,000 Moroccan citizens entered the city illegally, according to the report.

The situation has led to concerns over whether the friendly can be staged in suitable conditions. Mundo Deportivo, citing sources close to the organisers, reported that the circumstances were not currently considered appropriate for the match, particularly in light of the events in Ceuta during the previous week.

Barcelona are now assessing the situation with German manager Hansi Flick as they consider whether another friendly could be arranged. The club wants to ensure the squad reaches the required level of readiness before beginning its Spanish league campaign.

The proposed match in Tangier would have provided Barcelona with an important opportunity to continue preparations, but the club has chosen to prioritise the safety of its players and coaching staff.

That decision will come at a significant financial cost. Barcelona are expected to lose about €4.5m, the sum they would have received for fulfilling the fixture in Morocco.

Despite that loss, the club has opted against proceeding with the match under the present conditions. Its official position is that the uncertainty surrounding the situation means the fixture should not take place.

Barcelona’s next steps will depend on whether an alternative friendly can be organised. The club is discussing the options with Flick while attempting to maintain its preparation schedule ahead of the start of the Spanish league season.

No further details have been given about a possible replacement fixture or whether the proposed Tangier match could be rearranged. For now, Barcelona’s decision means the 15 August friendly will not go ahead, even though its cancellation removes a payment worth approximately €4.5m from the club’s plans.