Joan Laporta arrived at the Super Cup feeling defeated. With a motion of no confidence looming over him. However, he emerged from the commitment strengthened, turning the tournament into another lever to stay afloat.
In the media environment of Real Madrid, it was not only upsetting that Barça emerged from the Super Cup alive, but also strengthened.
9 Million Lever for Laporta
Barça returns to Arabia with 9 million euros in their pocket thanks to their victory against Real Madrid. 6 million for participating, 2 for reaching the final, and 1 for winning it.
Fuel for Laporta in his fight to position Barça in the 1:1 that allows him to fix their financial fair play and be able to sign players.
Athletic demanded a more equitable distribution of money among the four finalist teams. However, Laporta doesn't intend to accept the claim from one of the clubs that maneuvered against him in the Olmo case.
Barça will not accept any future changes to the distribution of Super Cup money. They won't attend the tournament if variations occur, as requested by Athletic. Laporta knows that without Barça, Arabia will lose interest in the Super Cup.
In Madrid, the white debacle has been met with indignation. A staunch Madridist like Juanma Rodríguez has even questioned Florentino Pérez.
Criticism of Florentino for What He Told Modric
"The image of Florentino telling Luka that we had to lose some final... If it were Ramón Calderón, I'd do 17 radio shows about it," he said last night on El Chiringuito.
He added: "However, because I'm so grateful to him and he's done so much for Real Madrid... After a 5-2, I don't think it was the right time to say that."
Juanma Rodríguez spoke these words last night on El Chiringuito, echoing the feeling within Madridismo that the "association" between Florentino and Laporta isn't good for Real Madrid.
He added: "I'm going to end up thinking that the Madrid-Barcelona partnership goes beyond the European Super League. Maybe it's in their interest that we don't sink them completely."
The Final Shovel to Sink Barça
In fact, Juanma Rodríguez had said on the same program:
"We had them one shovel away. And it was a shovel we had to deliver ourselves.
We weren't able to deliver it. If anything has characterized my Real Madrid throughout history, it's heart. We've always had heart, and today at halftime, I was transfer for 4-1.
And when they're down to 10, that's Real Madrid's moment. There was no life there."
Juanma Rodríguez believes that the interests that unite Florentino Pérez with Joan Laporta haven't helped deliver the final shovel to Barça.