The relationship between the directors of Real Madrid and Barcelona continues to crack, like the stones of a wall about to collapse. After years of institutional cordiality beyond the eternal sporting enmity, the outbreak of the 'Negreira case' completely changed the day-to-day life of two entities that seemed to get along well.. Also that of its presidents, Florentino Pérez and Joan Laporta, who have gone hand in hand in projects as important and with so much media coverage as the Super League or in the trenches against the president of LaLiga, Javier Tebas.. But this Saturday in Montjuic, Florentino intends to complete his third consecutive absence in the rival box in the great classic of Spanish football.. The reason? The insults of a culé manager to Vinicius.
On Monday, the hug between José Ángel Sánchez, general director of Real Madrid, and Laporta at the LaLiga Assembly surprised a large part of both fans, but summed up the moment of a relationship that was colder than before although still latent.. At that moment, Florentino Pérez was counting on going to Montjuic. However, on Tuesday, the attack by the club's deputy spokesperson, Miquel Camps, on the Brazilian after Braga – Madrid relit the torches.
“It's not racism, he deserves a slap in the face for being a clown and lazy,” wrote the manager.. Neither he nor the club have officially apologized to Madrid, and only Rafael Yuste, “on behalf of the sports vice president,” admitted that “it is an unfortunate tweet and will not be repeated by any manager.”. Some statements that have not served in Valdebebas, where they have read, like everyone else, the only statement from Barcelona this week, in which they report on the food among the last five presidents. In Madrid, they say, the insult has bothered a lot, but the subsequent lack of apology to the footballer has further confirmed the distance from the eternal rival's board.. “Only those who have done something unintentionally apologize,” they say in Valdebebas.
A last minute call…
That insult was the trigger for Florentino's change of mind, and unless he calls from Barcelona he will not go to the box in the middle of a rather heated atmosphere.. The appearance of Madrid as a private accusation in the 'Negreira case' already stirred the winds in March and April, when Pérez decided not to attend the League and Cup classics at the Camp Nou. And now, with Laporta accused of bribery and attacking Madrid through that “sociological Madridismo” that, according to him, “is in the media, in politics and in sport”, the reception for the Madrid president is expected to be hostile.
“It hurts the president about Vinicius,” they insist in the white team's sports city. Florentino has a special attachment to the Brazilian, whom he signed when he was just 18 years old. “At this time, he is not going to go to Montjuic,” they say.. We'll see how events progress (and the last minute apologies).