Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is set to maintain his firm stance by skipping tomorrow's El Clasico at Barcelona's stadium, according to reports from AS. This marks a continuation of the policy he adopted back in 2023 following the emergence of the 'Negreira Case', which has significantly strained relations between the two Spanish giants.

Perez has not attended any matches at Barcelona's grounds since the controversy erupted, and this weekend's showdown at the Spotify Camp Nou will be no different. The decision, made several days ago, underscores the deep rift between the clubs—a divide that began on March 19, 2023, when Perez first refused to sit in the directors' box at a Barcelona match after 20 years of consistent attendance.

The tension extends beyond Perez's absence. There will be no formal meeting between the hierarchies of the two clubs, a tradition that has been absent from La Liga fixtures since the 'Negreira Case' became public. Barcelona, too, has shown little enthusiasm for hosting a directors' lunch, especially after Real Madrid joined the investigation as a private prosecutor—a move that further soured relations.

The only exception to this frosty dynamic has been during the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. While no official directors' lunches were held, representatives from both clubs did meet informally. In 2024, club officials gathered at the Spanish embassy in Riyadh alongside the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to pose with the Super Cup trophy. However, in La Liga, such interactions have been nonexistent. Earlier this season, the first league El Clasico kicked off at 4:15pm, effectively ruling out any formal gathering.

As the two football powerhouses prepare for another high-stakes clash, Perez's absence serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing tensions. For fans and observers, it adds an extra layer of intrigue to what is already one of the most anticipated fixtures in world football.