Laporta expected to issue fiery reply to Real Madrid president’s latest attack over Negreira case | OneFootball

Earlier today, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez launched a fresh attack on FC Barcelona over the Negreira case.

The Merengues’ chief pointed fingers not only at Barça but also La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) over their passive stance on the matter.

“The ‘Negreira case’ is the most serious case in football today. We know that more than 8 million euros were paid for referee technical reports. And to top it off, the coaches never even received them,” he said.

“Who can believe that these reports, which the coaches didn’t even know existed, were paid for? It highlights the need for radical change.”

Continuing, he added: “It’s possible that some clubs have been relegated as a result of the Negreira case. Our football has been damaged, and justice must be served.” 

Laporta expected to deliver a fitting response

Now, according to AS, Barcelona president Joan Laporta is expected to deliver a ‘fiery’ response to Perez’s attack later this Thursday.

Barcelona have called all the squads from the club’s professional sections to the traditional Christmas dinner this Thursday, 18 December, at the Palau Blaugrana.

Relations between Barcelona and Real Madrid are at a low. (Photo by THOMAS COEX/AFP via Getty Images)

The event will be presided over by Laporta, who already has an eye on the elections scheduled for next year.

There is significant expectation surrounding the speech that the Barça president will deliver, not only because of the impending elections, but also the recent attacks from Real Madrid, who have turned the Negreira case into their preferred weapon against the Blaugrana.

In recent years, Laporta’s address at the Christmas dinner has had a considerable impact due to its timing and the surrounding circumstances.

Two years ago, in December 2023, Laporta used the occasion to call for unity and unconditional support for head coach Xavi Hernandez, who was beginning to face serious criticism from the environment.

One year later, in December 2024, and with the basketball team absent due to playing the following day in Bologna, Laporta addressed the club’s professionals with the same intensity, calling on them to make winning a habit.

This year, a much more politicised speech is expected, with more references to his election opposition and to Real Madrid.