Florentino Perez and Joan Laporta, the presidents of Real Madrid and Barcelona, met today at the Spanish Embassy in Saudi Arabia as part of an official reception for the event. The meeting took place as Real Madrid and Barcelona prepare to compete against each other in the final of the Spanish Super Cup, which will take place tomorrow.
Jorge Hevia Sierra, the Spanish ambassador to Saudi Arabia, served as the event’s host and presided over it. Pedro Rocha, the head of the RFEF Management Commission, was also present at the event.
The fact that the two club presidents had not met since the climactic match in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals in March of last year at the Santiago Bernabeu was a momentous occasion. This was owing to the fact that Perez did not attend any of the three climactic matches that were conducted in Barcelona in 2023 because of the Negreira affair.
Attending the ceremony, both Perez and Laporta delivered remarks in which they discussed the Spanish Super Cup and the ways in which it is contributing to the development of football in Saudi Arabia.
According to Florentino Perez, “Football is always a great opportunity to unite millions of people,” and here in Saudi Arabia, we sense the appreciation and respect given to our club and also to Spanish football. “Football is always a great opportunity to unite millions of people.”
“I would like to extend my congratulations to the entire Spanish Football Federation as well as those responsible for organizing the Spanish Super Cup.”
The president of Real Madrid went on to say that the match that will take place tomorrow will be a celebration of football, a game that is not limited by national boundaries.
In the meanwhile, Laporta expressed his appreciation for the way in which the Super Cup was organized in Saudi Arabia. He said, “We are very grateful to participate in this tournament, and not only for the advantages that the competition offers to the clubs that are participating.”
“We feel that the fact that it is conducted here in Saudi Arabia brings more benefits to the teams who are playing, and it is also important to note that it is beneficial to Spanish football. This meeting is very much appreciated.
“Thanks to the RFEF for giving this competition the worldwide relevance that it is being given by being played here,” the president of Barcelona said when asked about the competition’s significance.