La Liga president admits to being Real Madrid fan, wants to recreate Messi-Ronaldo rivalry

La Liga president Javier Tebas has admitted to being a supporter of Barcelona’s arch-rivals Real Madrid in a recent interview with ABC.

The 59-year-old is currently in his third term as the president of the Spanish top-flight, having first been elected for the position in 2013. Tebas has previously spoken of his Madridismo while insisting that it does not affect his neutrality with regard to his job.

Speaking during the aforementioned interview, he admitted that he would love to see Real Madrid sign Kylian Mbappe, while he would prefer Erling Haaland to join Barcelona as it would benefit La Liga greatly, by creating another Messi-Ronaldo-esque rivalry.

“I prefer Haaland at Barcelona and Mbappé at Madrid. I want LaLiga to repeat the luck of having two great players in the two best teams in the world, like the Messi and Ronaldo era. There, I am more of a La Liga supporter than a madridista,” Tebas said.

The La Liga president also spoke about Barça’s financial situation, expressing surprise at their reluctance to go ahead with the CVC deal despite their delicate economic position.

“I don’t understand why Barcelona is not in the CVC deal because it is the team that need the most money to get out of the situation they are in,” he said.

“I talk to Joan [Laporta] from time to time. Someone who was enthusiastic about the CVC project for 25 or 30 days and when he received a call [Reverter] everything collapsed with the agreement.”

Tebas also seemed to aim a dig at former CEO Ferran Reverter, hinting that he was the reason for the club not agreeing to the CVC proposal. “Reverter kidnapped Barcelona’s philosophy. He was a man who was constantly in contact with Florentino,” he said.

The La Liga head honcho was also at hand to talk about the current position of Barcelona in the league and their European prospects and how it might hurt their chances of bringing in top players, comparing it with Real Madrid’s situation.

“It’s complicated for Barça to sign players and qualify for the UCL, and Real Madrid is going to sign Mbappé and they can still sign Haaland…They are in the UCL and they are first in LaLiga. I think it’s not the place where Barça should be, but hey, there they are,” Tebas said.

Commenting on the doomed Super League, Tebas insisted that Real Madrid’s financial situation would allow them to push ahead with the project, but Barça might not be in a position to join.

“Superliga? Real Madrid can be there, because they are very well economically, but not Barça. Madrid have made a great management, it must be said. Very solvent economically and sportingly, but Barcelona are on the wrong path,” he added.