Overview
- The Athletic Club captain denounced holding the Supercopa de España in Saudi Arabia, using blunt language to call playing there rubbish.
- He argued that moving a national competition abroad shuts out supporters and makes Athletic feel like the away team.
- Athletic’s coaching staff and leadership are evaluating whether he should travel to Jeddah as he awaits the birth of his first child, and he has not requested leave.
- The 2026 edition opens in Jeddah on January 7 with Athletic vs. Barcelona, with Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid meeting the next day and the final slated for January 11.
- The Saudi hosting stems from an RFEF deal under Luis Rubiales that reformed the event into a four-team format and delivers significant revenue, with reports citing roughly €40 million a year through 2029.