Laporta launches fresh broadside at Real Madrid: 'Arrogant and losing prestige at every level'

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has launched another scathing attack on Real Madrid, branding the capital club's conduct as arrogant and boastful. The Catalan chief issued a firm response to the persistent accusations coming out of Madrid regarding the Negreira case and claims of refereeing favoritism toward the Blaugrana.

According to Laporta, the offensive is orchestrated by Real Madrid and club president Florentino Pérez purely to deflect public scrutiny and avoid internal self-criticism. He emphasized that Barcelona are enjoying a remarkable run and receiving widespread acclaim, while their rivals in the capital are attempting to undermine those achievements.

"They tried to convict us prematurely over the Negreira case, but the legal process has shown there is zero truth to the allegations. This will all conclude with Barca being completely exonerated," Laporta told reporters today.

The Barcelona chief added that attempts to tarnish the club's reputation will not go unchecked: "They will have to rethink their behavior, no matter how hard they try to keep this issue alive. Their motives are far from innocent—they are harming football as a whole."

Laporta also took aim at Madrid's broader institutional attitude across governing bodies: "They are in conflict with every organization. In UEFA and in the EuroLeague, they have set themselves against everyone. This is the behavior of a club that is losing prestige, recognition, and authority both domestically and internationally."

Pointing to their absence from the latest European Club Association (ECA) assembly as a prime example, he noted: "They didn't even send representatives, showcasing an utterly dismissive and arrogant attitude. There is a huge lack of trust, and they are constantly putting up roadblocks."

Beyond institutional politics, the president provided an update on Raphinha's fitness. The Brazilian winger returned from international duty with minor swelling in his right hamstring. Although scans revealed only a slight strain and he was initially expected to be fit to face Getafe, his recovery has stalled. After cutting Friday's training session short, manager Hansi Flick confirmed the forward has been ruled out of the upcoming clashes against Getafe and Galatasaray.

Laporta moved to ease concerns regarding the Brazilian, stating he will be fully fit for the trip to face PSG in Paris on October 20. The club chief also voiced his frustration with international breaks disrupting domestic schedules, but affirmed that the squad is well-equipped to navigate the challenging fixture list ahead.