Barcelona president talks Florentino Perez, Mbappe, Negreira case, Tebas, Real Madrid: ‘Definitely has an obsession’ | OneFootball

Florentino Perez’s recent explosive speech against Barcelona and the club’s involvement in the Negreira scandal saw the relations between the two teams hit an all-time low after a seemingly calm period where they had found a truce.

Yet, one knows that the two arch-rivals cannot stay in harmony for long and that the dispute was always just around the corner.

Over the past few months, Barcelona have accused Real Madrid of manipulating referees through their media channel while Los Blancos not only continue to propagate the Negreira news but also played a massive role in blocking Barcelona from playing La Liga’s first-ever overseas game.

Barcelona president speaks

Speaking at a recent public appearance (h/t COPE), Barcelona president Joan Laporta opened up on several Real Madrid-related topics and began by explaining the fundamental difference between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

“Real Madrid represents power and Barça represents freedom.”

“There is a correct, cordial relationship of institutional harmony, beyond the fact that we have differences,” he added on his relationship with Florentino Perez.

Laporta was then asked about Real Madrid’s big-name stars including Kylian Mbappe, to which he said,

“Kylian Mbappe is a very great player, but I prefer Lamine [Yamal], [Jules]Koundé, [Alejandro] Balde, [Marc] Bernal, [Marc] Casado, Joan García, Pedri.”

“And this mix between academy players with Raphinha, Ferran Torres, and Lewandowski. I love my players. The others, I can admit that they are good, but they don’t give me any special pleasure,” he added.

The president was then asked if he was planning a major signing for the club in the summer, to which he again took a dig at Real Madrid.

“Signing a world-class player? Yes, but only if we really need one.”

“Having too many big stars in the same team doesn’t work, as we can see very well near us (laughs). Yes, we’re all thinking of the same club.”

On the Negreira scandal

Laporta with the presidents of UEFA and the ECA. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Real Madrid and Perez have been very outspoken about the Negreira scandal and how Barcelona have been caught making payments red-handed to the former vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees (CTA).

“The story will continue until the judges say enough. We are in the framework of a judicial process. We are providing the data and documents. Everything is gradually becoming clear,” he began, remaining clear that they are not guilty.

“Barcelona did not buy referees. We were convicted before being tried, and I am absolutely certain that we will be acquitted,” he added.

He then blamed Real Madrid for unnecessarily dragging the matter and not allowing it to close.

“But there are parties who want to keep this issue alive, so they prolong the case to continue spreading the narrative that referees favour us. Over 72 years, all presidents of the refereeing committee were either former players or former presidents of Real Madrid.”

“I am completely calm. Real Madrid needs to take a look at itself regarding its channel, as it seeks to influence referees, as Javier Tebas himself said. They do it with violence outside the rules of the game,” he added, possibly hinting at Real Madrid TV.

Finally, he labelled the scandal as an effort to put a blemish on Barcelona’s name.

“I will not apologise, it was just refereeing consultations. What is actually happening is an organised campaign to tarnish the reputation of the greatest Barcelona in history. I am here to provide the explanations.”

On Javier Tebas, UEFA and Perez

Laporta then began to speak about how he and Perez spoke together about the Super League decision and how they decided that returning to UEFA was the best path for the time being.

“We had already discussed the matter in the Super League case with Florentino Perez, and we saw that the right path is to return to the fold of UEFA.”

“I believe that Real Madrid, when they saw Barcelona’s strong return, went into a state of panic,” he added.

The president was then asked to give his two cents on Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga, to which he said,

“There were definitely disagreements, but public relations are generally good. He’s a smart person. I don’t trust the strategies that want to sideline him.”

“His dismissal wouldn’t be good news for us. Real Madrid wants to push him out of the picture; there’s a fierce confrontation between Tebas and Florentino. This doesn’t worry me,” he added on Real Madrid attempting to oust him.

He then spoke on how Perez and Tebas are both open Madridistas.

“Both of them are Real Madrid fans in the end. If one of them said Tebas isn’t a Madridista, I wouldn’t believe it. Florentino enjoys a standard of wisdom, he’s balanced and offers deep reflections.”

“He definitely has an obsession; he’s obsessed with the Super League and with Tebas, but he just expresses his opinion,” he added on Perez.