- Barcelona continue to deny wrongdoing in Negreira case
- Real Madrid previously expressed concern
- Joan Laporta updates on current relations between clubs
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has revealed that current relations with fellow La Liga heavyweights Real Madrid are "bad" due to the ongoing Negreira case.
Having admitted to paying companies associated with Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, a former vice president of the technical committee of referees, for reports on opposition youth players and relating to professional refereeing over an 18-year period, Barcelona have continued to deny wrongdoing.
Real Madrid are involved as one of several La Liga clubs, alongside Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, Real Sociedad and others collectively expressing concern in a joint statement published last year.
As two of the fiercest rivals in world football, relations between Barcelona are never expected to be outstanding due to the directly competitive nature of the relationship. But they certainly appear far less than cordial at the present time, as a direct result of the Negreira situation.
"Relations with Real Madrid are bad because they have appeared in the 'Negreira case'," Laporta said this week, via Mundo Deportivo.
"We have many complaints of false statements, around 20. Let them continue doing what they consider, and we will also do what we consider doing."
For all the controversy and financial problems that continue to exist around them, Barcelona have actually made a stronger start to 2024/25 than the reigning Spanish and European champions.
Since an embarrassing 3-0 defeat to Monaco in the Joan Gamper Trophy, Hansi Flick's side have won four games on the bounce against Valencia, Athletic Club, Rayo Vallecano and Real Valladolid and are already four points clear of Madrid, Atletico and Villarreal at the top of the table.
Even with the seismic addition of Kylian Mbappe, Madrid have fallen to draws in trips off the mainland to Mallorca and Las Palmas, with the Frenchman scoring twice so far.
