In a heated exchange that has reignited one of football's fiercest rivalries, Barcelona's interim president Rafa Yuste has delivered a scathing response to Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez's recent accusations regarding the Negreira case.

Pérez's press conference on Tuesday night was nothing short of a bombshell. The Real Madrid chief didn't mince words as he launched a blistering attack on Barcelona, accusing the Catalan giants of cheating their way to success through the infamous Negreira scandal. But rather than backing down, Barcelona has come out swinging.

"Florentino's words seem pathetic to me and full of lies," Yuste fired back in an interview, making it clear that the club's earlier threat of legal action was no empty promise. "This manoeuvre by Florentino Pérez to cover up a sporting disaster that has been going on for two years will not get him anywhere."

The controversy centers around allegations that Barcelona made payments to a former refereeing official, accusations that Pérez used to claim the club had "stolen" seven La Liga titles. But Yuste was having none of it, pointing to Barcelona's recent success on the pitch as proof of their legitimacy.

"Seven La Liga titles stolen? This is a total lie," Yuste declared. "We have won two Leagues with a project built on La Masia talent and smart signings. We're winning with a 14-point difference. This is just a smokescreen to justify poor sports management."

For Barcelona fans, Yuste's defiant stance is a rallying cry. "The fans are very happy and nothing will take away our happiness," he added. "We're going to defend ourselves. We owe it to the fans and the club, and nobody touches this club."

As the war of words escalates, one thing is clear: El Clásico isn't just about what happens on the pitch anymore. With both clubs trading blows off it, this rivalry shows no signs of cooling down anytime soon.