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In the buildup to this weekend's Clásico, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has turned up the heat by taking aim at Real Madrid's transfer approach of signing "very expensive players who aren't delivering the expected results." In a pointed remark, he declared: "More than one rooster in the same henhouse can't work."
The long-standing rivalry between Spain's—and arguably the world's—two most powerful clubs has grown increasingly bitter in recent times, fueled by the ongoing 'Negreira case' and a public war of words between presidents Laporta and Florentino Pérez.
In early October, UEFA confirmed that Real Madrid had submitted "a substantial amount of documents related to the ongoing investigation into Barcelona in the matter involving José María Enríquez Negreira."
Barcelona stand accused of paying more than €7 million ($7.9 million) to a firm owned by Negreira, the former vice president of Spain's refereeing committee, allegedly in exchange for favorable officiating. The Spanish justice system's inquiry into the affair continues, while the reigning La Liga champions have also launched a lawsuit against Pérez.
Laporta has previously charged Madrid with "trying to discredit Barça" and seeking "to harm football."
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Speaking to L'Equipe ahead of Barcelona's high-profile Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain, Laporta once again took aim at Madrid.
When asked about his relationship with Los Blancos, the Barça president bluntly stated "it doesn't exist anymore." Pressed directly on the Negreira case, he pivoted to criticizing his rivals' spending habits.
"They want to divert attention to that, but there's nothing to it," Laporta was quoted as saying. "Real Madrid has lost credibility, both institutionally and on the pitch. They no longer carry any weight within the institutions. I believe they've gone down the wrong road, and they're paying for it. They've opened their wallets to bring in many very expensive players who aren't delivering the expected results."
Laporta had previously suggested that Kylian Mbappé's move to Madrid back in 2024 was destined to fail—a stance he has now firmly reiterated.
"The priority in football is the team and team spirit. Without that, no project can succeed. That's one of Barça's core strengths: combining exceptional talents, players from La Masía, players from different footballing backgrounds, and forging a team with a synergy that truly functions.
"They chased individual stars and marquee signings. I believe Real Madrid has lost credibility and they're trying by every means to justify all of this by lying about the Negreira case, because they haven't won anything in two years. We are winners, and we are contenders to win everything."
Madrid's Mbappé, Vinícius Jr Issue
While Laporta's comments are clearly designed to shift attention away from the Negreira case, they are likely to hit a raw nerve at the Bernabéu.
Notably, since Mbappé's arrival more than two years ago, Real Madrid have failed to lift a single major trophy, with the attacking chemistry between the club's highest-profile stars remaining a persistent problem.
Mbappé—long Pérez's most coveted target before finally completing his move in 2024—was expected to elevate the reigning European and Spanish champions and usher in a fresh era of dominance.
Yet despite racking up an impressive tally of goals and personal honors, the Frenchman's presence has visibly disrupted Madrid's collective performance, and debate rages over whether the system can accommodate both him and Vinícius Jr given the overlap in their roles and positions on the pitch.
Following the Madrid derby loss before the international break, L'Equipe published a striking graphic illustrating each player's average position during matches, with Mbappé and Vinícius shown almost directly overlapping.
Despite both players publicly dismissing any friction, rumors persist that Mbappé and Vinícius are not on the best of terms, and managing the squad's egos remains a constant challenge for whoever occupies the Real Madrid dugout.
Madrid currently trail La Liga leaders Barcelona by six points heading into Sunday's Clásico showdown at Camp Nou.