Joan Laporta, president of Barcelona, and Florentino Pérez, president of Real Madrid / Javi Ferrándiz
There will be no pre-match directors’ lunch ahead of El Clásico. Once again.
Relations between the boards of Barcelona and Real Madrid have been strained since the white club decided to file a private prosecution in the ‘Negreira Case’ in May 2023.
Since then, Florentino Pérez and Joan Laporta have only coincided at some events organized by the Spanish Football Federation in Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup. They did not meet last year at the dinner before the Copa del Rey final, as Real Madrid’s delegation boycotted it in protest of the referees appointed for the match.
This time, Florentino Pérez, still bitter over the Super League saga, has decided to decline the invitation from Rafa Yuste, who serves as Barcelona’s president until July 1 when Joan Laporta officially takes office.
The Real Madrid president will not be in the box at Spotify Camp Nou. This avoids the awkwardness of watching Barcelona clinch the league title in case of a draw or win. The highest representation of the white club in the Blaugrana box will be José Martínez, Pirri, Real Madrid’s honorary president. Alongside seven other representatives, including Emilio Butragueño, director of Institutional Relations, and José Ángel Sánchez, Florentino Pérez’s right-hand man in sporting matters.
With Tebas and Louzán
Although Florentino Pérez won’t be there, Rafa Yuste and Joan Laporta will be joined in the box by the president of the Spanish Football Federation, Rafael Louzán, and LaLiga president Javier Tebas. Both will be in Barcelona to present the champion’s trophy to Barça if they seal the title. The packed box will also include the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa; the Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni; the Minister of Industry, Jordi Hereu; and the President of the Parliament of Catalonia, Josep Rull.
The entertainment world will also be represented at the Spotify Camp Nou box. Olivia Rodrigo, the singer featured on Barcelona’s shirt for El Clásico, will be present, along with fellow singer Nathy Peluso, brothers Davic and José Muñoz of Estopa fame, and magician Antonio Díaz, El Mago Pop.
