Barcelona interim president blasts Florentino Perez over Negreira case allegations: ‘I felt sorry for him’ | OneFootball

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez’s press conference on Tuesday night was ruthless on many levels, and while it primarily served to boost his image and make his presence felt, he also spoke without filters on multiple topics related to the club.

One aspect that Perez spoke on without holding back was Barcelona and his accusations of the Catalans’ cheating their way to success in recent times, alluding to the Negreira scandal.

Needless to say, his words did not go down well in Catalonia and immediately prompted a response from the club threatening legal action.

President’s response

Barcelona’s interim president Rafa Yuste opened up on  Florentino Perez’s scathing attack on the Catalans in an interview (h/t Mundo Deportivo) and did not hold back on lashing out at the Real Madrid president.

“Florentino’s words seem pathetic to me and full of lies. The club already made a statement yesterday studying legal action.

“But I want to say that this manoeuvre by Florentino Pérez to cover up a sporting disaster that has been going on for two years will not get him anywhere,” he began.

Speaking on the Negreira scandal which Perez once again spoke highly critically of last night, Yuste defended his club from the allegations.

“It’s not worth talking about Negreira again when we have won two Leagues with a project with players from La Masia and others who have arrived from outside.”

“We are winning it with a 14-point difference and this is a smokescreen to try to justify poor sports management. The fans are very happy and nothing will take away our happiness,” he added.

The Barcelona president then addressed Perez’s allegation that Barcelona had ‘stolen’ seven league titles, saying,

“Seven La Liga titles stolen? This is a total lie. It is not so at all. He’ll know, we’re going to defend ourselves, we owe it to the fans and the club, and nobody touches the club.”

Hitting back at Perez for the allegation of stealing La Liga, the Barcelona president rubbed his team’s recent title on the Real Madrid president’s wounds.

Florentino Perez’s statements have not gone down well at Barcelona. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

“We’re thrilled to have won La Liga and to have won one of the toughest leagues in the world two years in a row, but I have to say one thing to Mr Florentino.”

“If you’ll allow me a bit of irony, Joan Laporta is taking over on July 1. We’re going to keep fighting to bring more success to this club, so that La Masia remains the undisputed cornerstone of our sports management,” he added.

Speaking on Barcelona’s official statement against Perez’s comments and what it implied in a legal sense, Yuste did not reveal much.

“There is no news yet about possible legal actions. The issue has been in the hands of the Legal Department since yesterday and when we have more evolution than what is being studied we will send it to you.”

“But the red lines can never be crossed and this man has already passed them. I saw the press conference later, not live, and it didn’t make me laugh or cry. I felt sorry for him,” he added.

Finally, Yuste was asked about the relations between Barcelona and Real Madrid as matters stand, to which he said,

“Pirri, honorary president, and part of his board of directors came on Sunday with Emilio Butragueño as well. They were very good and very friendly.”

“To them, nothing to say but the highest representative of the club is the president and when he makes some statements like that, I classify them as pathetic and that they are not true,” he concluded.