Barcelona vs Real Madrid could be played at Wembley amid Camp Nou renovation chaos

Camp Nou renovation work has been hit once again, and now it could impact the Barcelona vs Real Madrid El Clasico fixture in May after Barcelona's current stadium, the Estadi Olimpic, was already booked.

Update: Rolling Stones European tour is off

While Barcelona probably spent the last few weeks trying to solve the situation, Rolling Stones has come to the rescue to bail them out. The Rolling Stones will not tour Europe next May as previously scheduled. Their planned concert date in Barcelona at Estadi Olimpic would have conflicted with El Clasico against Real Madrid on the weekend of 11 May. While the tour wasn't confirmed at the time, the rumours were solid. While the news that the tour is now off is good news for fans in Spain, many fans in England will likely be disappointed at missing out on a potential once-in-a-lifetime experience.

While the game will no longer be played at Wembley, it's worth noting that the Spanish and English FAs, along with UEFA and FIFA, had approved its play outside of Spain. The Spanish FA specifically wants an El Clasico to be played in the USA one day, so the approval was no surprise.

The original article continues from this point 

It's not been a good few years for the Camp Nou renovation project, after delays on top of delays and the issues with the Champions League home fixtures. It looked like it couldn't get any worse, but now, Barcelona could face playing the El Clasico in England, at Wembley Stadium.

Barcelona aimed to return to the Nou Camp on 11 May for a possible title-deciding match against Real Madrid. However, their plans have been disrupted, as the Nou Camp is expected to remain unfinished until next season.

The stadium was demolished in June 2023, and a new one is under construction. Although £1.25bn has been invested to boost its capacity from 99,354 to over 105,000, Barcelona officials are now concerned that the Nou Camp won't be ready for the upcoming El Clasico.

El Clasico becomes The Classic

For the past two years, Barcelona have used the 58,000-capacity Estadi Olimpic in Barcelona. However, a fitting substitute for Camp Nou due to an event clash has thrown the El Clasico fixture into chaos. The fixture, which takes place in May, is now set to head overseas, with Wembley being considered a possible host location on such short notice.

Other options remain on the table, and while La Liga bosses have wanted an El Clasico in the United States, the short notice makes that very unlikely.

For now, Wembley seems to be the most likely, with Barcelona picking it due to it having historic significance for the club. Back in 1992, Barcelona won their first European Cup at the old Wembley, so the chance to claim a huge victory at the new Wembley is tempting for the club.

With a 90,000 capacity, Wembley would be a fitting home for such a match. The stadium has hosted its fair share of matches over the years. It would also be good for English-based fans of Barcelona and Real Madrid, who would have no reason not to attend a game being played in their backyard.

FGG says: An iconic game for an iconic venue

Barcelona vs Real Madrid is an iconic match, and Wembley is a fitting iconic venue for such a game. Wembley is no stranger to big games, and given the capacity and huge fan base for both sides in England, it will likely be a massive event for both teams and the country. While I don't like the idea of matches being played in other venues as a regular thing, given the circumstances and the chaos of the Camp Nou situation, it's a chance to turn a disaster into a beautiful tragedy.