Real Madrid and Barcelona both represent the biggest footballing rivalry in Spain, and compete in almost every aspect both on and off the pitch.
Despite this fierce rivalry, there’s a respect between the two clubs, and between their respective presidents Florentino Perez and Joan Laporta.
Both are aware that any decisions they make can affect the other greatly, whether this be the Super League, the fight against the management of LaLiga or other simpler sporting decisions.
The two clubs are constantly in talks with each other, and in recent months, some of these discussions have been about a certain unwritten rule: respecting the contract situations of each other’s players.
There has been a verbal agreement Perez and Laporta to not interfere with players on the other side who are still under contract. Players who are out of contract are another story, of course, and are fair game if one of the pair decides to pursue them.
There has been interest from Real Madrid over Ronald Araujo, which Perez denied, despite Los Blancos holding him in such high regard.
A move for Araujo, or any player for that matter, would only happen if he were in the last six months of his current contract.
A different situation with Haaland
Signing players from other clubs is a different matter, however, and it’s believed that Joan Laporta is ready to do absolutely everything in his power to prevent Real Madrid from signing Erling Haaaland from Borussia Dortmund.
The Barcelona president is willing to sell various players in order to finance a move for the young Norwegian striker, and prevent him from pulling on the shirt of his club’s biggest rivals.
