Report: Madrid chief Perez snubs El Clasico amid tensions with Barca

Agence France-Presse ·
MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 27: The president of Real Madrid, Florentino Perez, during the first presentation of the 'El Debate' awards, at the Thyssen-Bornemisz National Museum, on 27 February, 2023 in Madrid, Spain. El Debate' has decided to create annual awards to recognize institutions and individuals who have made a significant contribution to the positive projection of Spain. On this occasion, the awards have gone to Real Madrid CF (in the category that rewards the company with the greatest projection of Spain), the journalist Isambard Wilkinson (in the category of media or communication professional who has contributed in a relevant way to offer a real image of Spain) and the documentary filmmaker Jose Luis Lopez-Linares (in the category that rewards an entity or personality in the field of arts and literature in whose work or professional career the projection of Spain has a priority role).
Europa Press News / Europa Press / Getty

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez will not travel to Camp Nou to watch the Clasico in La Liga on Sunday, a Barcelona club source told AFP. 

The Catalans will not hold a traditional pre-game lunch between directors of both clubs either, the same source confirmed.

Tensions between the clubs have risen in the past week because of the corruption charge leveled at Barcelona by Spanish prosecutors for paying a former refereeing chief €7.3 million euros between 2001 and 2018.

Real Madrid confirmed last weekend they would appear in the case as an "injured party" to defend their interests, once proceedings move forward.

Barcelona host Real Madrid looking to increase their nine-point advantage on their rivals at the top of La Liga, which they are aiming to win for the first time since 2019.

Spanish newspaper AS report that it is the first Clasico at Camp Nou Perez has not attended "in 20 years."

Relations between the two rival clubs seemed to be improving of late, as they looked to launch a European Super League project together in 2021 and remain set on the idea.

XRedditFacebookWhatsAppEmailSMS

More Stories