Just over a month before the new season begins, there's already crossfire between the two giants of Spanish soccer.
The latest dispute between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid isn't about a clásico, a signing, or a controversial refereeing decision. This time, the focus is on the league schedule. The issue is how the return of the white team is managed after its participation in the new Club World Cup.
Meanwhile, in Chamartín, they keep insisting on delaying their LaLiga debut to guarantee their players' rest, while in Barcelona, there's outrage.
At Barça, they believe it's neither their responsibility nor that of the other clubs that Real Madrid attends an untimely tournament poorly fitted into the schedule. "They went for money and to gloss over the season," say sources in the offices at Camp Nou.
The request that wasn't granted to Barça
The tension increases when the treatment LaLiga has given to each is compared. Barça asked to play the first four matchdays away to continue the works at Spotify Camp Nou, but they were only granted three. Now Madrid is directly asking to postpone its first match... and it might get it.
At the Catalan club, they can't understand the double standard. If Barça wasn't given any leeway due to the works at Camp Nou, why is an even more favorable treatment for Real Madrid now being considered?
Where is the fairness? Joan Laporta has already made it clear that he doesn't intend to give in.
Laporta shuts the door on Florentino
The response from Barça has been blunt. Joan Laporta isn't willing to let the exhaustion from the Club World Cup be used as an excuse. "Don't count on us," club sources assure.
In Barcelona, they see this whole episode as another attempt by Real Madrid to influence the competition as it pleases.
Laporta is also upset with AFE (Spanish Footballers' Association), which now seems very concerned about the rest of the white team's players. However, they didn't lift a finger when Dani Olmo was about to be left unemployed in the middle of negotiations for his registration. "A lot of noise when it suits them," they point out ironically from the club.
No one will pay for the white party
In Barcelona, they're clear: they're not going to make things easier for Real Madrid. The congested schedule isn't LaLiga's or Barça's fault.
It's the responsibility of a FIFA that has turned the schedule into chaos with million-euro checks. Now that Real Madrid wants everyone else to fix its problem... it's not going to happen.
What's happening now isn't a surprise. Real Madrid already knew what awaited it when it accepted its participation in the World Cup. Barça won't give any kind of leeway.