Barcelona’s preparations for the festive fixture run have been dominated by discussions off the pitch, with tensions between La Liga’s top clubs escalating rapidly in recent days.
The political tug-of-war surrounding the future of European competition has only sharpened the divide, with both institutions viewing every public statement as a strategic move.
Inside Barcelona, senior figures have been monitoring Real Madrid’s reactions closely, especially after several contentious remarks from their leadership.
The Catalan club’s fanbase has also been vocal, calling for transparency amid claims and accusations flying between the two giants.
And with Barcelona now more aligned with UEFA and La Liga’s vision for continental football, the long-standing alliance between the two powerhouses has splintered in full view of the Spanish media.
Only after this intensifying backdrop did Joan Laporta finally address Florentino Perez’s earlier comments, breaking his silence after days of internal discussion.
Laporta’s response centred on what he believed were unfounded accusations made during Real Madrid’s Extraordinary General Assembly, which took place earlier this month.
Taking aim directly at the Madrid president, Laporta accused Real Madrid of being fixated on Barcelona, even going as far as stating the club suffers from “Barcelonitis”.
Despite the sharp wording of Laporta’s rebuttal, Real Madrid as an institution opted not to respond officially.
However, that silence did not extend to the club’s manager, Xabi Alonso, who chose to enter the debate himself.
Speaking ahead of Real Madrid’s weekend clash against Girona, via SPORT, Xabi Alonso, who maintains a close working relationship with Perez, delivered a clear and measured response to the Barcelona president’s claims regarding Real Madrid and their supposed obsession with Barca.
The Madrid coach was also notably irritated by Laporta suggesting that Real Madrid’s two goals against Elche earlier this season could have been easily disallowed.
Addressing Laporta directly, Alonso accused the Barcelona president of sending, “Populist messages pandering to their fans.
“We focus on the field, on winning it in a sporting way, every game is a test for it and we have to show it”.
This statement represents the first meaningful pushback from within Real Madrid following Laporta’s bold remarks about Perez, and it raises the temperature of an already heated rivalry.
Whether Barcelona will issue a further response remains to be seen, but the exchange has clearly struck a nerve on both sides.
What once appeared to be a brief moment of unity between the clubs, driven by their shared pursuit of the European Super League, has now disintegrated.
This isn’t the first occasion Alonso has pushed back, having done the same in the build-up to El Clasico.
Want to get the latest Barcelona news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.
