Ex-Real Madrid boss takes shots at Barcelona over Negreira case: ‘They tried to stop us, but didn’t succeed’ | OneFootball

The ongoing Negreira case continues to divide opinion across Spanish football, and every new comment from a high-profile figure inevitably fuels fresh debate. 

This time, the spotlight has turned to former Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello, whose remarks have resurfaced amid renewed discussion around sporting justice and institutional responsibility.

Capello, a veteran of European football and someone who has experienced major scandals first-hand, was asked directly about the Negreira case and whether he believes sporting justice has been served. 

His initial reaction was blunt, reflecting fatigue with the constant speculation surrounding the matter. Responding to the question, Capello said,

“What do you want me to say?”

Injustice to Real Madrid… as per Capello

The Italian coach then shifted the focus away from Barcelona and towards his own experiences during his time at Real Madrid, framing the conversation through the lens of sporting achievement under pressure. 

In doing so, he appeared to underline a familiar narrative — that success on the pitch is often questioned when it cannot be stopped.

“They tried to stop us, but they didn’t succeed. They couldn’t do it.”

Expanding on that idea, he recalled the challenges his teams faced and the resilience required to overcome them.

“Think about the effort we had to put in, the strength of that team, and what we achieved.”

Capello then touched on the concept of merit in football, suggesting that victories should be judged on performance rather than suspicion. 

“If you believe that winning always has value, then after all this, winning has even more value.”

Real Madrid as victims

The former Madrid boss went on to emphasise dominance rather than controversy, recalling how his teams were able to overcome every challenge placed in front of them.

“We beat everyone! I remember people saying, ‘That’s how Madrid wins.’ It was much more than that.”

Capello then introduced a crucial comparison, referencing Italy’s infamous Calciopoli scandal. 

This is where his comments inadvertently strengthen Barcelona’s argument, as he acknowledged that decisive action was taken in Italy under very different circumstances.

“You’re joking, but it’s actually very serious. 

“In Italy, there was a similar scandal called ‘Calciopoli,’ where some clubs manipulated referee appointments, and Juventus was relegated to the second division.”

Crucially, Capello highlighted a key distinction that has often been overlooked in the Negreira debate, which is the absence of proven match manipulation or referee appointments.

“But mind you, there was no money involved. With this Negreira case, nothing happened. That’s a question for you Spaniards, not for me.”

Finally, he closed by recalling the personal cost of Italy’s scandal, underlining how harsh the consequences were there compared to Spain.

“In Italy, we took action. I won two titles with Juventus, and I still have the medals at home, but the team was relegated to the second division.”

Source: MARCA