Atletico Madrid happy to play La Liga games in US – Diego Simeone

Diego Simeone has not voiced any opposition to plans to stage Atletico Madrid’s game at Villarreal in the United States.

It follows on from both clubs, along with La Liga, submitting an official request to stage the match – proposed for December – in Miami, Florida.

Villarreal confirmed the news via a statement on Thursday, following on from a report in Diario AS which highlighted that the presidents of both clubs said to be among the closest to La Liga chief Javier Tebas.

The meeting between the two is set to take place on matchday 16 of the current campaign with Atleti scheduled to visit the Yellow Submarine on 8 December.

The argument used by the league and those in favour at the respective clubs is that the teams and the competition will be able to enhance their international branding with such a scheme.

“We will play in Arabia, Bolivia or Turkey, we will compete wherever we go,” Simeone responded when asked about the proposals, as cited by Cadena Cope.

“There are many more substantive issues, which are more important than a football game. Obviously we hope that tranquillity reigns in Barcelona. A football game is secondary. 

“Valencia will not be an easy opponent. In the end it is complex for us and for them because they are a historic and very competitive team. They have enormous power in recovering and keeping the ball.

“Valencia are changing some things since the arrival of (Coach, Albert) Celades. The team was formed with a structure and I imagine that the coach will be thinking about what suits him best. They are dangerous, dynamic and play very well out of possession.”

La Liga - Club News