The 124 Million Euro Secret: Perez and Laporta’s Unlikely Pact Shocks Fans
18 January 2026
Background
In a development reported by a Spanish outlet, a surprising connection emerges between Florentino Perez, boss of Real Madrid, and Joan Laporta, Barcelona’s president. The relationship between the two giants has recently been strained, with Madrid repeatedly referencing the so‑called Nigerira case—Barcelona allegedly benefited from refereeing help—alongside Barcelona’s withdrawal from a Super League project.
El Confidencial credits Perez with a pivotal role in Laporta’s return to Barcelona’s presidency, revealing how political and financial maneuvering intersect in elite football circles.
The 124.6 Million Move
During Barcelona’s most recent electoral cycle, Perez reportedly reached out directly to the Banco Sabadell. Laporta needed to place about 124.6 million euros into the club’s accounts, a sum far from trivial for a club navigating an ongoing financial crunch. The bank initially hesitated, cautious about Barca’s precarious finances, but Perez’s persistence reportedly persuaded the bank to approve the deposit, securing the funds in the club’s accounts.
The newspaper notes that this money transfer occurred in a context where Laporta and Perez were seen as allies in pursuing a Super League venture, a project that Barcelona has since distanced itself from as circumstances evolved.
Context and Aftermath
According to the piece, Perez acted in a moment when Laporta was positioned as an ally in the broader strategy surrounding the Super League, a project that has since faced significant changes. The narrative is intertwined with a La Liga match‑recap feature involving Real Sociedad and Barcelona, underscoring how the off‑field financial intrigue sits alongside on‑field contests and calendar dates—illustrating that football’s drama isn’t confined to the pitch.
Overall, the report frames Perez’s actions as part of a larger web of influence and alliance‑building within Spanish football, linking the boardroom to the bank ledger in a way that inevitably fuels conversation about transparency, power, and the future of European competitions.
Snappy takeaway: in football, money can be a louder whistle than the referee, and the whistle often comes with a signature from a bank manager. Punchlines aside, the saga continues to provoke debate about how decisions are made behind closed doors.