There are conflicting reports regarding the real reasons behind Barcelona’s withdrawal from the friendly match against Inter Milan in Libya, originally scheduled for next Friday, with Atletico Madrid replacing them.

The Catalan newspaper “Mundo Deportivo,” close to Barça, confirmed that the withdrawal was not a technical decision by coach Hansi Flick to avoid injuries but was due to security concerns.

It stated that the step came after the Catalan club decided not to travel to Libya following warnings of “possible outbreaks of violence,” according to the Spanish newspaper.

The management confirmed “there were insufficient safety guarantees that made participation in the match impossible.”

Meanwhile, the Madrid-based newspaper “AS” claimed that Flick canceled the friendly match, leading the club to forfeit the 5 million euros it had received in advance.

The newspaper added that “Flick now needs the focus and readiness of all his players at 100%, away from any unnecessary distractions or fatigue.”

Atletico Madrid will face Inter Milan on Friday, October 10, at the Benghazi International Stadium, which has a capacity of 40,000 spectators.

The match will be called the “Reconstruction Cup” (FDRL), in appreciation of the two clubs’ support for Libya’s efforts to reposition itself on the global sports map.

On the other hand, according to the Italian agency “Nova,” the Spanish club’s decision was driven solely by overlapping sporting commitments and internal organizational reasons, not considerations related to the situation in Libya.

It mentioned that the Catalan club had already proposed moving the match date to September 10, 2025, for sporting and institutional reasons related to other events scheduled in Barcelona during the same period.

The club’s statement referred to the usual logistical and security procedures that must be coordinated between the two teams, without any mention of specific concerns related to Libya as a destination.

According to the agency, the final reasons for the cancellation were clarified: “The club was unable to participate in the October 10 match due to the clash with official youth national team matches and international call-ups for several players.”

Accordingly, Barcelona returned the 5 million euros it had received as compensation for participating in the friendly match, an amount comparable to its summer matches in Japan and South Korea.