Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is “not good for” Spain and has “too much influence there” … [+]
La Liga president Javier Tebas criticized his Real Madrid counterpart Florentino Perez for having “too much influence” which is “not good” for Spain or its football, as he spoke from a congress on Thursday.
Tebas is currently at loggerheads with Perez on issues such as the proposed European Super League and the CVC deal, over which Madrid filed a legal complaint against him.
“I defend myself as best I can,” Tebas said, when asked about his battles against the Los Blancos chief.
“The City photo in the box says it all,” he suggested, in reference to a snap taken at the Bernabeu which showed Perez with six Spanish government ministers while watching his side take on Manchester City in the Champions League quarterfinal first leg on Wednesday evening.
“I didn’t see that photo at the Metropolitano the next day [when Atletico Madrid played Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League]. It’s not a matter of fear, but of who’s in front of you. He is a very influential person for his goals.
“Florentino is transversal. With [Silvio] Berlusconi we knew he was right-wing, here Florentino is with everyone: Carmena, Zapatero, Sanchez… He has a lot of influence, too much… That’s not good for the country or for football.”
“Florentino never loses,” Tebas continued. “He is always attentive and alert. He’s been trying to eliminate me from La Liga for years and he doesn’t stop.
“The neutrality of the CSD (the Supreme Sports Council)
Tebas is also concerned about the stance of the Spanish government in relation to the potential breakaway competition, noting that “26 countries signed a declaration supporting national leagues except Spain.”
Ultimately, Tebas doesn’t believe that he will ever be friends with Perez or disgraced former Spanish Football Federation president Luis Rubiales because they don’t share the same “values”.
Despite this, however, Tebas wants “to see the best” players in Spain and gives Kylian Mbappe “a 99.99% chance that he will play for Real Madrid next season”.
“[Erling[ Haaland is more complicated. He’s only been at City for a short time to consider an exit,” Tebas added.