Real Madrid and Barcelona have ‘verbal agreement’ not to go after each other’s players under contract, with fierce Spanish rivals implementing ‘unwritten rule’
- Real Madrid were linked with an incredible move for Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo
- But there has now been an unofficial non-compete agreement between sides
- Florentino Perez and Joan Laporta know Spanish giants are stronger together
- They have therefore decided not to speak to each other’s players under contract
Real Madrid and Barcelona have ‘agreed an unwritten rule’ to stop speaking to each other’s players under contract.
Real were recently understood to be planning an incredible move for Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo, but it seems the Spanish giants have come to a mutually beneficial agreement.
Marca report that their respective presidents Florentino Perez and Joan Laporta have agreed not to interfere with players on the other side while they are under contract.
Joan Laporta (left) and Florentino Perez have an unwritten agreement not to pursue any players from each other’s teams while they are under contract
Real Madrid were hoping to make an outlandish move for Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo
There is an understanding between both clubs that with both suffering financially after the pandemic and Super League fallout, they are more powerful as allies than rivals.
And this newly cordial relationship means only players who have left Barcelona or Real as free agents will be fair game.
Perez recently denied that Real were interested in Ronald Araujo and it seems Los Blancos will not be pursuing the defender for the time being.
Erling Haaland is a target for Real and Barcelona are desperate to stop them signing him
Players outside of both teams are obviously fair game and Laporta is desperate to prevent Real signing Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund in the summer.
He recently claimed it is possible for Barcelona to sign anyone, despite their financial problems and the club president knows he will have to shed players to free up space to make a move for the striker.
Real have left Barcelona in the dust in the LaLiga title race this season and currently sit 15 points clear of their old rivals at the summit.
