Barcelona ‘will pocket more than £4m’ from a MID-SEASON friendly in the US that has been scheduled just a day after a LaLiga clash with Almeria

Barcelona will reportedly rake in over £4million from a mid-season friendly with Club America scheduled a day after their December LaLiga fixture against Almeria. 

The peculiar arrangement comes amid the club’s continued efforts to improve their dire financial situation. The outfit has also incurred a massive £1.3bn bill for their stadium renovation project. 

According to The Athletic, the Catalan giants will jet off to Dallas the day after hosting the top-flight strugglers and face the Mexican side at the Cotton Bowl Stadium. 

The arena, which hosted games during the 1994 World Cup, was the venue for Barca’s 2-2 pre-season draw with Juventus in July 2022. 

The trip will be the side’s first visit to the US since their tour last summer when several members of the squad were struck down by a virus. 

Xavi’s side currently sit third in the league after a solid, if uninspiring defence of their title

Club America have made a brilliant start to sit top of Liga MX, seven points clear of second

The outbreak resulted in their fixture against the Turin giants being called off hours before kick-off as, according to Spanish outlet, a minimum of fifteen players were affected by the illness. 

Barcelona are reportedly set to pocket £4.4m from the upcoming friendly. 

The club’s announcement comes swiftly after news of their attempts to generate funds by adding a range of new and interesting items to their website following the demolition of the Nou Camp.

Earlier this month, several products hit the market including a portion of the last ever goal nets, framed square of the pitch, a gold Nou Camp pin and a gold Nou Camp necklace for.

However, the most eye-catching items on sale were diamonds produced with the same carbon as the old Nou Camp grass.

The half carat option will set someone back £2,200, while the single carat rock fetches around £13,000.

According to Spanish outlet Cadena Cope, the carbon from the grass has been extracted and then crystallised in a process which is claimed to be completely sustainable and with ‘zero environmental impact’.

Barcelona have made a solid start to their title defence and sit third in LaLiga, four points behind surprise leaders Girona after 12 games.