Barcelona is deeply angered by remarks from Real Madrid—specifically from several of their players—made in recent days about the so-called “Negreira case,” according to the Catalan outlet Mundo Deportivo. The paper says the Clásico was used as a pretext, especially given that the matter is currently before the courts. By contrast, Barça cannot fathom the media storm whipped up around Lamine Yamal for “saying what he said” in as “frivolous an environment as the Kings League,” while comments by Thibaut Courtois at an official UEFA press conference and by Jude Bellingham during the Clásico went virtually unnoticed.

Mundo Deportivo recalls that a week ago, before the Champions League match against Juventus, Courtois criticized Barcelona president Joan Laporta, who had previously hinted at a “white hand” in refereeing. “I think he says that because he has to in the context of the whole Negreira case and the rest. Since I’ve been at Real Madrid, I’ve never felt we were helped—if anything, the opposite. Referees are human, like players and coaches; mistakes will happen. But I don’t feel we’ve ever been favored,” the Los Blancos goalkeeper said at the time.

The Catalan daily also points to Jude Bellingham’s words during Sunday’s Clásico, picked up by Movistar+ cameras: “That’s not a red card, not even with Negreira,” the Englishman is said to have remarked after — Mundo Deportivo’s wording — “fouling Pedri, then pulling him by the head while parodying his protests and mocking him.”

Mundo Deportivo has learned there is huge discontent within Barcelona over the “witch hunt” the academy graduate Lamine Yamal has been subjected to for several days. Meanwhile, Real Madrid players can say whatever they like about Barcelona, whether in official public settings such as UEFA press conferences or even during matches, and no scandal follows.

“All of this is happening in the context of the refereeing in the Clásico, which was once again systematically unfavorable to Barça in every contentious, interpretive situation. Even with the penalty initially given by the referee — later overturned by VAR — for a foul by Vinícius on Yamal, not the other way around. Nevertheless, according to Real Madrid TV, Los Blancos were once again the ones wronged, even though no instance has ever been recorded of that channel saying the opposite,” the Catalan paper concludes.