Ex-Barcelona president Joan Gaspart has called on Real Madrid chief Florentino Perez to be honest about why he won’t allow the Santiago Bernabeu to be the host for the final of the Copa del Rey.
Barcelona qualified for their sixth final in the past eight years after routing Valencia 8-1 on aggregate. Los Cules will likely face Sevilla in the final after the Andalucian side defeated Celta Vigo 4-0 in the first leg of their semi-final.
Attention has now turn to possible venues to host the final with Madrid being an obvious choice for both sets of fans to get to easily.
Los Blancos have in the past resisted attempts for the showpiece event to be held in their stadium when Barcelona take part in the final.
And talking to AS, Gaspart called on Perez to be honest as to why he won’t allow for it to be held at the home of the 10-time Champions League winners.
He stated: “Madrid are afraid Barca will lift the Copa. If that’s the reason, they should say so, they should explain the reason to everyone. Florentino, if you don’t want Barca to play the Final there, say it publicly. If you want to annoy 10-or-12,000 Barca members and the same of Celta or Sevilla, say so.
“If Florentino doesn’t want to hear the Barca anthem four times and see me with my scarf, I’ll say ‘relax, Florentino, I won’t go.’ I’ve already sacrificed myself and this fan will stay in the bar opposite and watch the game with his friends.
“If the Spanish Football Federation asked for the Camp Nou for Madrid to play a Final, I wouldn’t deny it. We had the Champions League Final in 1999 and knew Madrid could play in it. In the end it was Manchester United and Bayern Munich but we had no doubts. We knew it wouldn’t be Barca because we’d been eliminated.”
Comment: let them say what want say but don’t allow Barcelona to play in Santiago. Let them go any where to play their final match but not Santiago.
Hala perez, hala Madrid
Comment: lol….. dis dude seriously take rivalry as a joke, we can’t let dis to happen, seeing Barca lifting trophy in our home, never. i solidly support Perez on dis. long live Madrid
Madrid is not afraid that Barca would win it, in fact the generally feeling is that Barca would win, but Barca always advance their political & derogatory tendencies, things that Madrid must not condone & encourage, they can go play the finals anywhere else,it musnt be the Santiago Bernabeu!
They should look elsewhere to play their finals, the Santiago Bello is no place for separatist to advance their political motives & denigrate the sovereignty of a country with such a great history
I really don’t know the problem barca board has, they have been an obstacle to Madrid for the removal of Madrid in this year of copa dey larey now they want to play there final in our home land in other to mock us… this more not happen the whole board should go against it.. they should take there sloppy final elsewhere.. Hala Madrid. Hala Perez