Real Madrid not behind Bartomeu’s “mano negra” claims

Josep María Bartomeu claims that a “hidden hand” is behind Barça’s problems

Real Madrid are not behind Barcelona president Bartomeu’s claims that a”mano negra”, which quite means literally “black hand” translated as a “hidden hand”, “something fishy” or “something untoward” is behind the troubles that the Catalan giants are experiencing at the moment.

Most of the attention this weekend is focused on the three horse race which the Spanish League has turned into. Barça and Atlético Madrid play at home and Real Madrid are away to Real Sociedad with all three teams desperate to pick up points and head for the home straight of La Liga.

However, the main talking point is the mess that Barcelona have found themselves embroiled in. FIFA have banned the Blaugrana club for 14 months for the continuing breach of regulations regarding the signing of young stars.

Barcelona’s president Josep Maria Bartomeu made a statement yesterday denying any wrongdoing by the club and in the process adding fuel to the fire by saying that “an anonymous complaint”  was received by FIFA by someone who wanted to damage the reputation or “tarnish” the club, which the Madrid press has construed to be a hint that someone with links to the merengue club is behind this whole affair.

Spanish sports newspapers Marca and AS, who are pro Real Madrid, have quoted Pedro López Jiménez, vice president of Real Madrid and a member of FIFA’s EU Social Dialogue Committee as saying: “Real Madrid, nor myself, as a member of FIFA, have anything to do with the sanction handed down to Barcelona.”

One of the headlines on the front cover of Marca today reads: “Canta y no llores” which literally means “Sing and don’t cry” and is a Spanish proverb or saying also used in a Mexican Mariachi song called “Cielito Lindo”.

As we have said this week, we hope Bartomeu is the right man for the job. It’s not really good that a club’s president should blame others for his own entity’s mistakes and just adds to the problem in my opinion. There’s no need for Bartomeu to go on a mud slinging outing when he should concentrate on getting his own house in order first. Barcelona are behind you Bartomeu so don’t let this episode bring the club’s impeccable reputation into disrepute. the best thing to do is to keep quiet and sort the club’s affairs out.