Frenkie De Jong has risked the wrath of his Barcelona employers by panning the deal to play their away LaLiga match against Villarreal in the US.
The fixture in Miami is on the brink of being announced after UEFA begrudgingly allowed their teams to make the move, with Serie A sides expected to do the same.
The announcement will rob Villarreal supporters of a home game, even though club executives are talking up covering travel costs.
Barca are certainly set to benefit financially, but De Jong doesn’t see the point in the trade off.
“I don’t think it’s right, and as a player, I don’t agree with it either,” he said while away with the Netherlands.
“I can certainly understand the clubs, because they’ll profit financially from it, and it’s also good for the brand, so I understand that position. But personally, I wouldn’t do it; I don’t agree with it either.
“As players, we already have to travel and play a lot of matches – and I honestly don’t think it’s fair in terms of the competition.
“We’re currently playing an away match at a neutral venue. I can imagine other clubs aren’t happy about that.
“It’s also strange, of course, playing a Spanish league match in America.”
His national team coach Ronald Koeman, who also played for and coached Barca, was in agreement.
“It doesn’t make sense,” he said.
“Not even from a sporting perspective, because there will be more Barcelona fans in the stands than Villarreal fans.”
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