The long-running Negreira case has once again ignited tensions at the very top of Spanish football, with a public and unusually sharp exchange between La Liga president Javier Tebas and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
After Perez voiced strong criticism regarding what he described as “passivity” in the judicial handling of the case, Tebas took his time before responding.
When he finally did, his reply was anything but restrained.
Using his personal X account, the La Liga president directly addressed Perez and dismissed his claims with a tone that left little room for interpretation.
Opening his response, Tebas urged caution against what he views as a distorted version of events.
"Don’t let them spin the story for you, president," Tebas begins in his post.
A rant from the chief
From there, Tebas moved into a detailed explanation of how judicial procedures actually function, pushing back against the idea that La Liga had failed to act decisively.
"In a legal proceeding, intervention is not at the discretion of the interested party, but in accordance with the legal order of appearance in the proceedings."
"The order was clear and categorical: the prosecutor, Estrada Fernández’s lawyer, LaLiga (although we acted earlier in the prosecutor’s office), and finally, Real Madrid, which was the last to appear."
Tebas then turned the focus squarely back on Real Madrid, questioning the club’s timing and suggesting that responsibility for any perceived delay lies closer to home.
Addressing Perez directly, he posed a pointed rhetorical question.
"Don’t you remember why you were the last? Passivity, then. By the way, the prosecutor asked 19 questions, Estrada’s lawyer asked two before the question asked by La Liga’s lawyer," said the La Liga president.
As his statement progressed, Tebas’ language became increasingly forceful.
He underlined that the questions Real Madrid later sought to introduce had already been covered during the testimony of Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde, rendering further intervention redundant.
"And it should be emphasised that the questions that Real Madrid tried to raise afterwards had already been answered by Luis Enrique and Valverde."
"To speak of ‘passivity’ in this context not only disregards the legal proceedings but also disrespects the intelligence of anyone who knows how a court works."
"That is not indignation: it is theatre. La Liga respects the processes, acts when it must, and does not construct narratives. Others, unfortunately, do," he concluded.