The relationship between us and Real Madrid is very bad - Laporta

Tuesday, 3 September, 2024

McCreadie Andias 

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has on Tuesday opened up on the tense nature of the club’s current relations with fellow La Liga heavyweights Real Madrid.

Laporta, for his part, took his place in front of the media this afternoon, as part of a highly-anticipated press conference.

Across as much, the Spanish patron was drawn on a whole host of subjects, from the transfer market to manager Hansi Flick to ongoings on the pitch.

And yet, the topic which has drawn perhaps more attention than any other is that of Barcelona’s relationship with arch rivals Real Madrid.

This comes with Laporta having not been at all shy in admitting that tensions are currently altogether high between the clubs.

“Relations with Real Madrid are bad because they have appeared in the ‘Negreira case’. We have many complaints of false statements, around twenty. Let them continue doing what they consider, and we will also do what we consider doing.”Laporta said. 

In September 13,2023, Real Madrid issued a statement confirming they will be involved in the 'Negreira Case' after seeing Barcelona accused of corruption.

Real Madrid held a board meeting after seeing rivals Barcelona denounced by prosecutors following an investigation which revealed the club had made payments to the former vice-president of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA), Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.

The Los Blancos then issued a statement revealing their stance after discussions between president Florentino Perez and the club's board of directors.

"The Board of Directors of Real Madrid CF, at its meeting held today, learned of the serious accusations made by the Barcelona Prosecutor's Office against FC Barcelona, ​​two of its presidents, Josep María Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell, and the former directors Albert Soler and Óscar Grau, on the basis of potential crimes, among others, of corruption in the sports field, within the framework of the relations established by said club with the former vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees, José María Enríquez Negreira," read the club statement.

"Real Madrid expresses its deep concern about the seriousness of the facts and reiterates its full confidence in the action of justice and has agreed that, in defense of its legitimate interests, it will appear in the procedure as soon as the judge opens it to the parties harmed."statement added. 

Barcelona president Joan Laporta responded defiantly to the accusations and has accused detractors of trying to tarnish the club's history. However, prosecutors will now pursue legal action against the Catalans and the club could face sanctions if found guilty.