The Madrid rivalry is reaching its breaking point as it continues to heat up. According to MARCA Jose Felix Diaz, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid’s partnership is about to end permanently. The clubs’ relationship has deteriorated after ten years of mutual understanding. Disputes between the teams regarding superior supporters and football ideologies have occurred frequently throughout history. However, there have been numerous disputes between the teams over the previous year, both on and off the field. The Super League, the collapse of the youth system’s non-aggression pact, Vinicius Junior and Atletico Madrid’s refusal to perform the “pasillo” are among these disputes.
The Super League, Enrique Cerezo, the president of Atletico Madrid, chose the popular route by leaving the Super League and stood in opposition to Florentino Perez with UEFA and the Premier League clubs. The conflict began back in April 2021 when they turned their back on Real Madrid and FC Barcelona and decided to leave the Super League. However, according to Enrique Cerezo, Atletico Madrid is neither in nor out at this time. They may decide to modify their mind later.
Atletico Madrid’s refusal to perform the “Pasillo”. After Real Madrid won their 35th LaLiga against Espanyol. Real Madrid faced Atletico Madrid in their next game, a game that was played at Atléti’s stadium, the Wanda Metropolitano. Before the match, Atlético Madrid chose not to make a pasillo to Real Madrid. Los Colchoneros put up an official statement, stating in it that the guard of honor won’t be performed. Even Atletico Madrid’s players spoke about this. Jan Oblak stated, “As captain, I’m one of those who don’t like to deliver or receive the ‘pasillo’,” whilst José Maria Giménez remarked, “A pasillo to Madrid? While we congratulate them, we also value our loyal supporters. Although there was respect between the clubs at this point, the situation between them didn’t seem to get better.”
The collapse of the youth system’s non-aggression pact, in the summer 2022, the reliable Mario Cortegana reported that Real Madrid had broken their non-aggression pact with Atlético Madrid. Indicating that Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are now both able to sign young players from each other. The two most powerful clubs in Madrid have been bound by a non-aggression deal for the past fifteen years. Both sides agreed that neither at the senior level nor in the youth divisions would they sign players from the other. So, neither party had to be concerned about the other stealing their finest talents. MARCA later reported that Real Madrid had considered the non-aggression pact with Atletico Madrid broken due to some attitudes maintained recently in addition to not getting a guard of honor at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Vinicius Junior, In what was the first derby of the season, a lot of talk ahead of the match was coming out. Koke Resurrección spoke with Movistar and was asked about Vinicius’ dancing, Koke said: “At the end of the day if he scores a goal and decides to dance it’s his call. To each his own and everyone celebrates the way he likes.” This was also the moment where the problems started for Vinicius Junior regarding the fans. Ahead of kick-off, horrific scenes unfolded outside the arena as a group of Atlético Madrid fans chanted “You’re a monkey, Vinicius you’re a monkey.” Real Madrid later won the game 2-1 with Rodrygo Goes and Fede Valverde scoring, where we saw the picture of the season where Vinicius Junior and his countryman Rodrygo Goes danced in front of the Atletico Madrid’s ultras.
(Photo by Antonio Villalba/Real Madrid via Getty Images)
A few months later, Real Madrid got drawn to face Atletico Madrid in Copa del Rey quarter finals, prior to the match there were also horrific scenes, Atletico Madrid fans hung a Viní Jr doll with a banner saying: “Madrid hates Real.” BILD Atletico Madrid responded with an official statement: “Such acts are disgusting, unacceptable and a disgrace to society. We condemn any act of aggression against people. The rivalry between the clubs is maximized, but so must be the respect regardless of opinions or skin color.”
The latest conflict between both clubs is about TV-rights. On Wednesday, Mario Cortegana (The Athletic) reported that Atlético Madrid have forbidden Real Madrid TV’s cameras from covering the quarterfinal of the youth Champions Cup. Previously, Atlético had given Los Blancos permission to air the games played by both sides in their Ciudad Deportiva. Later, Jose Felix Diaz of MARCA corroborated the information in Mario Coretganas’ report. Felix claimed that this was the first occasion where Los Colchoneros had stopped a home derby from being shown on television.
The relationship between the main clubs in Madrid seems to be deteriorating month after month, with new disputes emerging from the Spanish City. Clubs’ future is unknown, but one thing is definitely certain: things won’t get better.
Featured Image: (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images)