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JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) – Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde didn't try to sugarcoat the reasons that prompted the Spanish soccer federation to take the Super Cup to Saudi Arabia, acknowledging Wednesday that they were there for the money.
Valverde made his comments a day before Barcelona faced Atletico Madrid in the revamped competition that was being played for the first time in Saudi Arabia thanks to a lucrative three-year deal reached by the Spanish federation despite criticism from human rights activists.
''I know a lot is talked about what happens here, but you have to understand that football is an industry today,'' Valverde said.