Rosell sparks war of word with Real

Relations between La Liga rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid have worsened after a war of words between the two clubs erupted on Thursday.

The first shot was fired by Barca president Sandro Rosell at a press conference, who threatened to break all relations with Real if they were to ‘cross the limits of sportsmanship’ again.

Four El Clasico encounters in 18 days this season only served to fuel the rivalry between the two clubs, with Real boss Jose Mourinho accusing Barca of influencing referees.

Earlier in the press conference, Rosell said Barca was still interested in Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas but would not be prepared to offer the 40 million pounds it did last off-season.

He then launched into a remarkable tirade at bitter enemies Real.

“Madrid made accusations and conspiracy claims without any ground. They’ve tried to win off the pitch what they couldn’t win on it,” Rosell said on Thursday.

“We want to turn the page now, but if Madrid again cross the limits of sportmanship, we won’t hesitate to break all relations.”

“A few days ago the president of Real Madrid said he would not stop until the club had won a tenth European Cup.”

“We hope that they attempt this on the pitch, in a sporting manner and rediscovering a way of behaving that I believe many Madrid fans want.”

It took just a few hours for Real to formulate a response, with a statement released on the club’s website damning Rosell’s comments.

The statement said that Rosell had hinted at rumours linking the Real with the use of performance-enhancing drugs, a claim perpetuated on a Spanish radio station and one that has not been substantiated.

“The grave and false insinuations in the speech relating to certain reports on the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport, that have nothing to do (neither in origin nor fruition) with Real Madrid CF are incomprehensible to us, given that everybody knows our club immediately and categorically denied said reports on the media platform they were published in,” the statement read.

“It is important to remember that, facing the aforementioned pressure, FC Barcelona lodged an astonishing formal complaint against the coach of Real Madrid CF at UEFA, something unprecedented in the relations between both clubs.”

“Despite this unprecedented event and the statement made by the president of FC Barcelona, and for the good of football, Real Madrid CF will continue to work to have the best relations with FC Barcelona, as it always does with every other club from Spain and the rest of world.”