The former Barça president asserts there is no evidence indicating any harm to Real Madrid in the ongoing Negreira case.
The Negreira matter continues to unfold, with the latest development centering on the defense strategy of Josep Maria Bartomeu, the former FC Barcelona president. His team has challenged Real Madrid to participate in the case as a private prosecutor, a move that has prompted an appeal to the magistrate Silvia López Mejía, according to reports in La Razón. The heart of the dispute concerns the payments totaling 7.4 million euros made between 2001 and 2018 to the then Vice President of Arbitrators, José María Enríquez Negreira. Bartomeu maintains that there is not the slightest indication of damage to Real Madrid and argues that the team does not deserve to be described as harmed within the investigation.
Bartomeu’s attorney, José María Fuster-Fabra, indicated that Real Madrid had sought to pursue private prosecution by claiming the status of an injured party. The Merengue club had publicly reaffirmed its position on March 24, making clear its willingness to participate in the proceedings if the court opened the door to injured parties seeking to defend their legitimate interests.
According to Bartomeu, allowing broad, unsubstantiated private accusations from multiple teams would complicate the investigation beyond manageable levels. Fuster-Fabra underscored that other clubs, such as Espanyol, Celta de Vigo, Elche, and others within La Liga and under the umbrella of the RFEF, might also attempt to insert themselves into the case. He noted that several teams have already appeared in the proceedings, and he argued that Real Madrid’s request should be viewed with caution given these precedents.
Real Madrid has issued a formal statement emphasizing its concern about the gravity of the alleged facts while reaffirming full trust in the judiciary. The club conveyed its intention to participate in the process on behalf of its legitimate interests should the court decide to allow it to do so, signaling readiness to respond as an offended party if the court warrants such a designation.
At this juncture, Bartomeu is pushing to restrict Real Madrid’s involvement in the case, arguing that the club is not a merely misled or harmed entity, and thus should not be treated as a private prosecutor. The maneuver reflects the broader strategic dispute over where responsibility lies and who has standing to participate in the legal process as the proceedings around the payment records continue to attract attention from fans and legal observers alike.
The evolving episode underscores the legal complexities of football governance in Spain, where alliances between clubs, governing bodies, and individual executives intersect with high-stakes lawsuits. As the case proceeds, observers will be watching closely to see how the court interprets the roles of various stakeholders and whether additional clubs decide to align themselves with the proceedings or to maintain a narrower scope of involvement.