For the second year in a row, the Sevilla board didn't sit in the Montjuic box. Nor did they accept the invitation to the fellowship meal with the Barça board.
The tradition was started last year by President José Castro Carmona, who's no longer in office. This year it's been continued by the son of the legendary President José María Del Nido, José María Del Nido Carrasco.
Sevilla Wants Nothing to Do with Barça
Sevilla feels deeply offended by the Negreira case. However, neither the judge, nor the Civil Guard, nor the prosecutor's office, nor the investigative press in Madrid have found a single piece of evidence of tampering with the competition.
However, Sevilla refuses to have any relationship with the Barça board as a result of the Negreira case.
And it proved it during its recent visit to Barcelona, where there was neither a fellowship meal nor company in the box. Sevilla wants nothing to do with Barça, neither the president nor any other member of its board of directors.
Last season, Laporta placed Sevilla's management team in one of the last rows at Montjuic.
In response to the complaints, this year they've been placed in row one, right behind the Sevilla bench. with a visibility that is more than deficient.
Relations between the two institutions have been officially broken off. Barça hasn't forgiven Sevilla for its attitude.
This is how Del Nido defended his position: “We have already said on many occasions that our position on the Negreira case is firm. We believe that the facts are unacceptable and we won't sit in the box again or attend the board meal.”
Curiously, Sevilla's leaders don't agree to eat with Laporta and his board. But they do accept crumbs from their squad when a blaugrana player becomes available.
They Give Up on Laporta's Lobster, but They Look for the Crumbs
They give up on the lobster that Laporta has reserved for them but they are eagerly waiting for the final sale of stock. They want to be ready in case they can take on a loan the players that are no good for the Barça coach. They are never willing to buy them, though.
It happened with Marc Guiu and Vitor Roque and it's happening now with Ansu Fati. Guiu went to Chelsea and Barça preferred to place Vitor Roque in Betis rather than in Sevilla.
Sevilla is now waiting for a resply from Barça regarding Ansu Fati's loan in the winter transfer window and until the end of the season.
But Laporta will not accept his request. This is not because of the arguments that preside over the Barça-Sevilla relationship, but because Sevilla can't pay Ansu Fati's full salary. This is an indispensable condition that Barça sets for his loan.