Laporta tears into Real Madrid during Barcelona Christmas dinner – ‘They’re reacting in a very despicable way’ | OneFootball

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta used his traditional Christmas dinner speech to launch a fierce attack on Real Madrid and what he considers a sustained campaign against the Catalan club over the ‘Negreira case’.

Earlier in the week, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez launched a scathing attack on Barcelona as well as La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) with regard to the Negreira case and how it was being handled.

Soon after Perez’s allegations, reports emerged stating that Barça president Laporta would give a fitting reply to the Real Madrid supremo during the traditional Christmas dinner, which he has now done.

Laporta’s fiery retort

Laporta hit out at Real Madrid, stating that the Spanish capital club were envious of the success that Barcelona have been achieving, and are trying to distort the reality by spewing constant lies.

“I have to warn you that our good sporting form is generating a lot of envy, and they are reacting in a very despicable way, using all kinds of underhanded tactics, disregarding every moral code imaginable, and being a bad influence on everyone,” he began.

“I suppose I don’t need to tell you who and which club I’m referring to. They are constantly trying to discredit us, attacking our badge and our values,” Laporta added.

Continuing, the Barça chief remarked: “We are not going to allow them to continue with these kinds of manoeuvres.”

Laporta lashed out at Real Madrid during his Christmas dinner speech. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

“They are the same ones who confuse power with unenlightened despotism, who are usually the first to practice cynicism, and who go through life with an arrogance that is as excessive as it is astounding.”

To remove any remaining ambiguity, he delivered a final, unmistakable blow, pointing fingers at Real Madrid’s controversial RMTV broadcast, saying:

“I am talking about the same people who run a monstrosity of a television program from which they spew lies and poison the public permanently and constantly.”

The Barça president closed by strongly defending the club’s identity and future, saying:

“We are strong again, both on and off the field, while they try to distort our image and even dare to erase our history and claim it as their own.

“They will not succeed; we are building a glorious era, we will reach the pinnacle of success again, and this will be thanks primarily to you.”

Laporta’s words were met with loud applause from the audience, which included representatives from all of the club’s professional sections, first team included.

Moments after finishing his speech, the president himself admitted how he felt: “The truth is, I feel relieved. I really needed to say it.”

Source: AS