LALIGA’S RESPONSE TO REAL MADRID’S SPECIAL REQUEST REVEALED AHEAD OF ARSENAL MATCH
laliga has officially responded to a special request from real madrid, just days before the spanish giants are set to face arsenal in a high-profile international friendly. with the fixture drawing attention globally, real madrid had approached laliga with a plea that could impact their preparations and player availability for the clash.
according to sources close to the situation, real madrid requested permission from laliga to slightly adjust their pre-season schedule, hoping to gain more flexibility with player usage ahead of the arsenal game. the club cited concerns over player fatigue, especially for those returning from international duty and recovering from minor injuries sustained during the tail end of the 2024/25 season.
laliga has now issued a formal response, confirming that they will not object to real madrid’s pre-season changes, provided they meet two conditions: the first is that any matchday changes or player schedule adjustments must not interfere with the official season calendar. the second is that player workloads are monitored and reported to the league’s medical committee, a step aimed at maintaining player welfare.
a laliga spokesperson said, “we recognize the importance of global pre-season fixtures in growing spanish football’s international brand. at the same time, we remain committed to safeguarding the physical integrity of our players. real madrid’s request was reasonable and within protocol.”
this decision allows carlo ancelotti’s squad to potentially rest key stars like jude bellingham, vinícius jr., and federico valverde ahead of the arsenal encounter, while also using more academy talent to fill in during warm-up sessions. the game against arsenal, scheduled in the united states, is part of the “soccer champions tour” which pits europe’s elite clubs against each other in major u.s. cities.
real madrid are expected to take the opportunity to test tactical adjustments, especially with their new signings expected to make their unofficial debuts. the match is being marketed as a “clash of contenders,” with both teams having finished their domestic campaigns strongly.
this isn’t the first time laliga has shown flexibility with real madrid’s pre-season needs. similar accommodations were made in past seasons, especially when spanish clubs had intense champions league runs. however, this year’s response comes with added scrutiny, as it follows broader criticisms from other laliga clubs about perceived favoritism toward spain’s two major clubs—real madrid and barcelona.
nonetheless, laliga insists its approval was purely procedural. “the league must balance fairness with practicality,” the statement read. “pre-season is not bound by competitive rules in the same way the season is, but we must ensure no club gains undue advantage.”
arsenal, meanwhile, are reportedly monitoring real madrid’s preparation with interest. the premier league side is expected to field a strong starting lineup, aiming to lay down a marker ahead of their 2025/26 campaign.
the real madrid vs arsenal showdown promises fireworks, and with laliga’s green light, los blancos now have a clearer runway to make the most of their global tour—without falling foul of domestic regulations.
