Jose Manuel Villarejo, Ex-Police Chief, has come forward to reveal more details about the infamous Negreira Case. Villarejo sat down with RAC1 to add the name of Real Madrid President, Florentino Pérez, into the mix.
Villarejo was a former undercover policeman involved in the Negreira Case. He has now accused Real Madrid of similar charges of bribing referees to influence the games in their favor. He has also revealed that the Spanish government knew about these ongoing for more than a decade.
🚨🚨🗣️ José Manuel Villarejo (Former Commissioner): “Florentino Pérez already bribed the referees before Barça did. However, nothing happened because he’s untouchable. Nobody dared to accuse him because it’s Florentino Perez.” pic.twitter.com/IAqv3kA1nz
— Managing Barça (@ManagingBarca) October 3, 2023
Villarejo had an in-depth conversation with journalist Jordi Basté accusing Florentino Pérez of bribing the referees before FC Barcelona. He commented: “Florentino Pérez already bribed the referees before Barça did. However, nothing happened because he is untouchable. Nobody dared to accuse him because it’s Florentino Perez.”
Perez has responded by ordering immediate judicial action against Villarejo claiming the accusations as false. Real Madrid has released an official statement regarding the matter.
The Negreira case picked up steam last week when a Barcelona judge charged FC Barcelona with bribery in relation to the case. The judge charged Barcelona as well as the former Presidents of the club, Sandro Rosell and Josep Bartomeu along with Jose Negreira and his son, Javier Enriquez Romero.
🚨⚠️ BREAKING: Real Madrid statement —
The President of Real Madrid C. F., Florentino Pérez, has ordered the immediate filing of judicial action against former Commissioner Villarejo for the false accusations [of Bribing referees] made on the Catalan radio station RAC1. pic.twitter.com/rPIHhpct6d
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) October 3, 2023
FC Barcelona paid around $8 Million over 17 years to former vice-president of the Referee’s Technical Committee, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira. The payments during this period have been deemed as bribery as per the charges.
The judge has investigated the evidence and bribery charges have been issued. Bribery has a more serious penalty in Spanish law, and FC Barcelona will be investigated for these new charges. Meanwhile, FC Barcelona manager, Xavi, dismissed the accusations, claiming that he never had the feeling that referees have benefited them.
Jose Manuel Villarejo admitted to spying on former Barcelona President Sandro Rosell
Villarejo also admitted to spying on Sandro Rosell, FC Barcelona president, during the period from 2010 to 2014. He elaborated that it was his mission to spy on Rosell and other Board of Directors of the club to create false evidence for smear campaigns against the club.
🚨 | Former Board Member José Manuel Villarejo has accused Laporta of providing false information to Police on Sandro Rosell for money laundering. pic.twitter.com/4EXyGIoEvl
— Barça Insider (@theBarcaInsider) October 2, 2023
FC Barcelona is a symbol for the people who are pro-independence of the Catalan region of Spain. The political messaging of the club makes it a target for the opposition side, which is evident by these new comments from Villarejo.
Villarejo also accused the current FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta of providing false information to him on Sandro Rosell. He elaborated that Laporta sent a voice note to Sandro Rosell asking to confront the accusations from Villarejo. Sandro Rosell was arrested in 2017 on the back of leaked information from Laporta.
It is noteworthy that Villarejo’s testament and comments are yet to be proven true by more reliable sources. He himself has been accused of money laundering, espionage, and involvement in criminal activity which makes him an unreliable source in these specific matters.
