31-05-2025
Ex-FC Barcelona Leader Attacks Real Madrid, ‘Can Of Sardines' Bernabeu
An ex-FC Barcelona president criticized Real Madrid and said that its Bernabeu stadium looks like a ... More "can of sardines" while appearing on a popular podcast.
An ex-FC Barcelona president criticized Real Madrid and said that its Bernabeu stadium looks like a "can of sardines" while appearing on a popular podcast.
Joan Gaspart was the Catalans' leader from 2000 and 2003, and is unfortunately perhaps most remembered for letting Madrid counterpart Florentino Perez steal away Ballon d'Or winner Luis Figo in that first mentioned year as the Portuguese switched allegiances across El Clasico's bitter divide.
Because of this, Gaspart is unlikely to praise his former club's eternal rival. While appearing on the El 10 del Barca program, Gaspart balked that 'when the Bernabeu is closed, it looks like a can of sardines'.
'Hermetically sealed, with that shape... The model and the photos show it the same. It's not an insult, it's the truth,' he added, admitting that although the Bernabeu is 'beautiful' and 'wonderful', the Spotify Camp Nou, currently being renovated, will be 'much better' when it is finally ready.
'In the photo with the new coach [Xabi Alonso] and president Florentino, you can see the background of the stadium... which is not the real one, it is a render. What does that mean? That they are not as proud of the stadium as they say,' Gaspart continued.
Wishing Alonso 'to do well personally', Gaspart of course doesn't want things to pan out well for him and Madrid 'on the sporting side … just as they want the same with [Hansi]
Alonso's Real Madrid begins at the Club World Cup on June 14, which Gaspart would have liked to have seen Barca play.
'Of course I would have liked to have played in it. One more title is always important. But since we don't play it, it's better for our players to rest to come back strong," he pointed out.
FC Barcelona's players will indeed rest up, and putting less minutes in domestic treble-winning legs over the summer might prove important next season.
