According to Sport, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez is attempting to revive the Negreira case amid the Premier League's investigation into Manchester City for 114 alleged financial regulation breaches. This move comes as Barcelona's strong sporting performance over the past two years and Joan Laporta's break with the Super League have caused discomfort at Real Madrid.

Less than two years ago, at a Real Madrid general assembly, Florentino Pérez downplayed the so-called Negreira case, telling members present that a strong Barcelona was important and that the two clubs should cooperate on certain matters. Clearly, the shared interest in the Super League, as proposed by Florentino Pérez, was the underlying motivation. This was on November 24, 2024. Florentino told members: "Barcelona and Real Madrid should help each other, and I say this with complete sincerity. We must remember that this is one of the greatest clubs in the world. Why would we be upset with each other? I couldn't be clearer." That was less than two years ago.

What has changed in such a short time? A great deal, almost everything. First, it is clear that Laporta's complete break with the Super League caught Florentino off guard. In a short time, it proved to be one of the best decisions the current Barcelona president could have made during his tenure. The results have been nothing short of excellent. He didn't need that traveling companion. He finally understood.

The two league titles won since then have left Real Madrid without trophies this season; Barcelona's clear dominance in head-to-head meetings; their stronger presence in the Spanish national team; the emergence of a new "Messi" — Lamine Yamal — who appears set to extend Real Madrid's nightmare for many years to come. A project built on an excellent and consistently productive youth academy, a new spectacular stadium that has begun to take shape, which will host the Champions League final in 2029 and is nearing completion. Meanwhile, Real Madrid's sporting project lacks clear direction, fails to excite supporters, and worse still, sees no prospects for changing the status quo in the short term, let alone bringing Mourinho to the bench.

Now, with the Premier League about to decide on Manchester City's 114 alleged financial breaches, amid various controversies surrounding the matter, Real Madrid wants to seize this moment to transform the Negreira case into its own crusade, something it had long dismissed.

I do not defend the payments made to Enríquez Negreira, vice president of the referees' committee. I condemn these payments and believe they were a serious institutional error that inexplicably continued for so long. However, conflating these payments with match-fixing is an entirely different matter, a world apart, and something that has yet to be proven and for which no evidence exists.

UEFA has remained consistent so far, not acting hastily. Although the case has been in court since 2023, UEFA is waiting to see if there will be a conviction. Even Laporta's recent rapprochement with Ceferin earned Barcelona the significant prize of hosting the Champions League final as soon as the new Camp Nou is completed. This is no small thing.

But what matters most are the results and the sentiment—the sporting enthusiasm of Barcelona's supporters. I fear we will often have to grow accustomed to such situations and attacks, which will intensify as the season draws to a close and expectations are gradually fulfilled. The further this Barcelona goes, the louder the noise will become.

Traduzido por IA.

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