Laporta Fires Up El Clasico Week: No Relationship With Real Madrid and Yamal Is Going Nowhere
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has lit the fuse for El Clasico week with a bullish interview on Catalunya Radio. In a Laporta El Clasico Real Madrid interview, Laporta said Barcelona no longer have a working relationship with Real Madrid, framed the coming days as an open confrontation with the oldest rivals and issued a firm statement that Lamine Yamal will stay at Barcelona for many years.
What Happened
Laporta sat down with journalist Jordi Costa on Catalunya Radio on Tuesday night, five days before El Clasico. The Barcelona president covered the whole spectrum of the hot topics of the club: the 4-2 defeat at PSG, the Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday, the relationship with Real Madrid and the future of Lamine Yamal.
Asked about Real Madrid, Laporta did not hide the temperature of the rivalry. He said Barcelona no longer have a working relationship with the club from the capital, framing the week ahead as an open confrontation. “We must understand that there will be days of great tension with Real Madrid, and the coming ones will be one of those,” he said. “There is no longer any relationship between Barcelona and Real Madrid.”
On Yamal, the message was the opposite: calm and confidence. Laporta dismissed the transfer rumours as a distraction campaign and insisted the teenager will stay. “Lamine is a genius! He has that magic inside him and that ability to amaze people,” Laporta said. “He is at Barcelona, he comes from La Masia, and this is the best environment for a player of his age and talent.”
Laporta El Clasico Real Madrid: Key Quotes
The interview produced several headline lines. Laporta was asked about the rumours linking Yamal with a move away, and his answer was blunt: “No, he will stay at Barcelona. These are stories that do not worry us.”
On the Ballon d’Or ceremony, the president asked for patience, called Yamal a favourite who deserves the award after everything he has done, and said the matter would be discussed after El Clasico.
On the PSG defeat, he struck a reassuring tone: “The 4-2 defeat in Paris hurts, but this team has shown its character all season. We have nine wins in the league and we are going to win on Sunday.”
Key Moments
The defining moment of the interview came when Costa asked directly about the state of relations with Real Madrid. Laporta did not hesitate. The answer confirmed what the fans already sense: the rivalry is at a low point off the pitch as well as on it, with both clubs competing on every front.
The second key moment was the Yamal declaration. The 19-year-old has been linked with clubs around Europe all season, but Laporta killed the story dead: Yamal will stay at Barcelona, and the club will soon talk about his new contract. The current deal of the winger runs to 2030 with a reported one billion euro release clause.
The El Clasico Focus
Everything points to Sunday. Laporta made it clear the club is counting on the home crowd at Spotify Camp Nou to make the difference. Barcelona lead LaLiga with 27 points from nine wins, six ahead of third-placed Real Madrid, and a win would deliver a record tenth straight league win to start the season.
The president also backed the rotation of Hansi Flick in Paris. “The coach knows what he is doing. He rested the players he had to rest. On Sunday we will have the full team and the full stadium behind us,” Laporta said.
Background and Context
The interview came hours after the 4-2 defeat of Barcelona at PSG, the first loss of the season. Flick had rested Rodri and several key players with Sunday in mind, and Laporta defended the approach. “The Champions League is long, the league is long, but El Clasico is now. We will be ready,” he said.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony adds another layer to the week. It takes place in London on Monday October 26, the day after El Clasico, and Yamal is a leading candidate after a season with 24 goals and 18 assists, the LaLiga title and World Cup glory with Spain. Laporta would not be drawn on whether he expects the winger to win.
Relations between the clubs have been strained for years, with disputes over refereeing, the Super League and several transfer battles. The comments of Laporta confirm the working relationship has now broken down completely.
What It Means
El Clasico week has its narrative. Laporta has set the tone from the boardroom: confrontation on the pitch, confidence off it. The Yamal message will reassure fans worried about the transfer rumours, and the Madrid message will fire up the home crowd.
A Barcelona win on Sunday would open a nine-point gap over Real Madrid and set a new LaLiga record for the best start to a season. The president knows what is at stake, and his interview was designed to make sure everyone else knows too.
What Next
El Clasico kicks off at 21:00 CET on Sunday October 25 at Spotify Camp Nou. The Ballon d’Or ceremony follows in London on Monday October 26. Flick will give a press conference on Saturday, and the squad will train at the Ciutat Esportiva before the final preparations.
Key Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Interview | Joan Laporta on Catalunya Radio with Jordi Costa |
| Date | Tuesday October 20, 2026 |
| On Real Madrid | No working relationship, days of great tension ahead |
| On Lamine Yamal | Will stay at Barcelona, a genius with magic inside |
| Yamal contract | Runs to 2030, one billion euro release clause |
| On Ballon d’Or | Yamal is a favourite, ceremony in London on Monday |
| On PSG 4-2 defeat | It hurts, but the team has shown character all season |
| LaLiga standings | Barcelona 27 points, six ahead of third-placed Real Madrid |
| El Clasico | Sunday October 25, 21:00 CET, Spotify Camp Nou |
| Ballon d’Or ceremony | Monday October 26, London |
| Record on the line | Tenth straight league win, best start in LaLiga history |
| Barcelona form | Nine wins from nine in LaLiga |
Conclusion
Laporta has fired up El Clasico week the only way he knows: with confrontation and confidence. No relationship with Real Madrid, no doubt about Lamine Yamal and no doubt about Sunday. The president has set the tone. Now it is up to the players to deliver at Camp Nou.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Laporta say about Real Madrid?
Joan Laporta said Barcelona no longer have a working relationship with Real Madrid, framing the coming days as an open confrontation with the oldest rivals ahead of El Clasico on Sunday.
What did Laporta say about the future of Lamine Yamal?
Laporta dismissed transfer rumours and insisted Yamal will stay at Barcelona. He called the 19-year-old a genius, praised his La Masia roots and described Barcelona as the ideal environment for his career.
Is Lamine Yamal a favourite for the Ballon d’Or?
Yes. Laporta described Yamal as a leading candidate for the 2026 Ballon d’Or after a season with 24 goals and 18 assists, the LaLiga title and World Cup glory with Spain. The ceremony takes place in London on Monday October 26.
When is El Clasico?
The first El Clasico of the season kicks off at 21:00 CET on Sunday October 25 at Spotify Camp Nou. Barcelona lead LaLiga with 27 points, six ahead of third-placed Real Madrid.
