Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images
La Liga president Javier Tebas has addressed several key issues surrounding Spanish football, offering strong opinions on Real Madrid, president Florentino Perez, and the ongoing scheduling and broadcasting disputes in the league.
In a wide-ranging conversation, Tebas did not shy away from calling out what he sees as fundamental problems affecting the domestic competition.
Tebas voiced his frustration with external competitions disrupting the La Liga calendar, especially as Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are both set to participate in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup.
When asked about the potential of a Madrid derby to open the 2025–26 season, Tebas was firm in his response.
“An Atletico-Real Madrid match on Matchday 1 is impossible,” he said. “This isn’t like the Super Cup.
“That fixture is far too important for broadcasters. When the time comes, we’ll make decisions with the relevant bodies.
“But we can’t keep changing our league schedule for events we don’t agree with or that harm Spanish football. We have to respect the collective bargaining agreement with AFE.”
Relationship with Florentino Perez
The La Liga chief made it clear that his relationship with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is practically non-existent due to their opposing views on how football should be run.
Tebas and Perez’s relationship is strained. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
“With the club, relations are as they should be. We can broadcast their games, and we do it well,” Tebas stated. “But with Florentino Perez, there is no relationship. We’re on completely different paths.
“He supports a model based on elitism and an oligarchic vision—the Super League. I don’t support that. It’s not about club management, it’s about how the competition is structured.”
Tebas even went so far as to accuse Perez of using personal influence to attempt to oust him. “He keeps saying over lunch that he wants to fire me and claims the CSD agrees with him. I’ve filed countless complaints with the TAD because of him.”
On Real Madrid TV
Tebas also commented on the recurring controversy surrounding Real Madrid TV, which has often published videos critical of La Liga referees.
He drew attention to the timing of their media output, suggesting it was more strategic than principled.
“Barcelona complains once or twice a season. Real Madrid complains every week.
“What stood out to me is that once they were no longer in the title race, those videos stopped. If their goal was to denounce the Liga Negreira case, why did they stop?” Tebas questioned.
Source: AS
Real Madrid will have to delay official signings of top targets until after Club World Cup
Photo by Daniel Jayo/Getty Images
As Real Madrid prepare for the FIFA Club World Cup, frustration is growing within the club over the delayed arrivals of Alvaro Carreras and Franco Mastantuono.
According to SPORT, the club has been pushing to bring both Carreras and Mastantuono in early so they could be part of the squad for the Club World Cup.
However, Benfica and River Plate are standing firm, insisting both players stay to represent their current clubs in the tournament.
This has left new manager Xabi Alonso frustrated, as he will now have to wait until after the competition to integrate the young talents into his plans.
Everything was served on a plate
Real Madrid had hoped their willingness to meet the release clauses, €50 million for Carreras and €45 million for Mastantuono, would be enough to smooth the process.
Even though the players themselves are eager to join the Madrid project and were ready to join for the Club World Cup, their respective clubs have remained firm.
In fact, both River Plate and Benfica are delaying the deals intentionally, even though they are guaranteed full payment of the clauses.
With added taxes and operational costs, the entire double deal could end up costing Real Madrid around €120 million.
Two absences for Alonso’s plans
Alaro Carreras will join after the Club World Cup. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)
Alonso now faces the challenge of going into his first major tournament as Real Madrid manager without two players he had counted on as reinforcements.
Both players were seen as important pieces in Alonso’s new-look squad, and the inability to count on them during the Club World Cup means Madrid could be stretched thin in terms of depth and rotation.
For now, Real Madrid will need to play the tournament without them and hope that the delays don’t affect the bigger vision that Alonso has for the coming season.