Barcelona’s economic situation has pushed them to the limit. Such is the state that the club are willing to enter verboten territories and break rules that would otherwise never be considered to salvage the situation.
One such step being considered by the Blaugrana is the shifting of the Joan Gamper Trophy.
According to reports from AS, Barcelona are looking to shift the ritual preseason game away from Spotify Camp Nou. The St. Jakob Stadium in Basel, Switzerland is one of the likely destinations and would bring in a profit of €1.5 million.
The annual exhibition-friendly match organised by the Catalan Kings every August is named after the club’s founding member, and later president, Joan Gamper.
However, it means more than a friendly fight of 90 minutes to Cules, for it also serves as the night on which the first-team squad are officially unveiled before the Spotify Camp Nou.
Only thrice in its history has the game been played outside Camp Nou – twice at the Montjuic in 1990 and 1996 and once at the Johan Cruyff Stadium in 2021.
The reason behind shifting the game to Basel, however, is not purely economic. Camp Nou is set to enter major renovations next year, and that is another factor pioneering the change.
Moreover, Laporta has even asked La Liga to host the first few games of next season away from home, for the club need that time to refurbish the Montjuic which will serve as a stand-in home ground.
The coming Joan Gamper game will be special for it will coincide with the 125th anniversary of the club. Basel may just be the best place to shift the game considering that it is the country where the legendary Joan Gamper was born.
Source: Barca Universal