Dani Olmo criticizes Real Madrid: Negreira case is used to target Barça

Dani Olmo criticizes Real Madrid: Negreira case is used to target Barça

The World Cup is in full swing and the pressure is mounting on Spain towards an important match against Portugal. Despite a large Barcelona delegation in the selection of national coach, the impact of that core is still lagging behind. Dani Olmo, brought in by Barcelona as a creative force, has played a supporting role so far and is still waiting for his first goal of the tournament. In the run-up to the cracker against Portugal, Olmo did not focus on his own statistics, but on the tensions in Spanish club football that affect the national team.

In a conversation with RAC1, reported via Spanish media, Olmo pointed to Real Madrid. According to the midfielder, the rival is using the Negreira case to disrupt Barcelona and thus create noise around the club. "It's normal that they want to make noise in some way. We won a lot of titles for two years, dominated in the league, the cup and the Supercopa," Olmo said. His words underline how the age-old rivalry between the superpowers also resonates during a world tournament.


Relations between Real Madrid and Barcelona are at a low point. The Madrid club went to the European association with an extensive file and expressed its firm belief that Barcelona had benefited from referees in the past: a step that further fueled the feud. Barcelona reacted strongly and initiated legal proceedings against the president of Real Madrid following his comments on the matter. Mutual distrust has therefore reappeared head-on, even now that the focus should actually be on the World Cup.

The so-called Negreira case has long revolved around alleged irregularities surrounding referees and payments to a former official, and has therefore been a source of discussion in Spain and beyond. While various authorities have and are examining the file, the debate about integrity, influence and image in Spanish top football has reignited. For players like Olmo, who stands in the same dressing room with internationals from both club camps, this forms the invisible layer beneath a tournament that normally revolves around sporting details.

For Spain, the match against Portugal is of great significance in the tournament context. Real Madrid internationals have so far made a fresher impression than the Barça delegation, while Olmo, with his qualities, should be the link to break open the last line. It is difficult to measure whether the extra noise affects Spain, but Olmo's message is clear: the bickering outside the lines should not determine the sporting story. In the coming match it will become clear whether La Roja can completely turn the switch and give the footballing answers the last word.

Read more on our latest coverage and stay tuned for updates on what happens next.

Related articles

• >