LaLiga president Javier Tebas has defended Real Madrid's attempts to sign Kylian Mbappe despite football's wider economic struggles, adamant their conduct pales in comparison to that of Paris Saint-Germain.
Madrid president Florentino Perez was at the forefront of the European Super League scandal earlier this year, as a group of elite clubs attempted to form a closed breakaway competition.
Perez said their intention was to "save" football, convinced the sport was financially unsustainable in its current form, but plans quickly unravelled when the English clubs involved pulled out.
Yet, despite talk of football's doom, Madrid lodged bids for Mbappe in the most recent transfer window, with their offers thought to have started at €160million – only the Frenchman himself (€180m) and PSG team-mate Neymar (€222m) have ever cost more.
Nevertheless, Madrid have raised significant capital through sales over the past four years, turning a profit in transfer fees in three of the five seasons dating back to the start of 2017-18.
As such, Tebas sees little cause for concern over the financial state of Madrid, but he cannot see them having a transfer window like that of PSG, who brought in Lionel Messi, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Georginio Wijnaldum, Achraf Hakimi, Sergio Ramos and Nuno Mendes.
Speaking at a sponsorship news conference, Tebas told reporters: "I said that Spanish football is not ruined, neither Madrid nor Barcelona.
"There are at least 80 per cent of clubs in Europe that have it much worse. Regarding Real Madrid, I think they have been the club that's been better managed through the pandemic, with enormous rigor in their salary spending. Real Madrid has the capacity to do what they want.
"They can never be PSG, because PSG cheats. They have a salary expense close to €600m, which is impossible. Madrid are not a state club either, so they can't."
Talk of Spanish football's demise intensified following Barcelona's latest comprehensive Champions League defeat on Tuesday, losing 3-0 to Bayern Munich at Camp Nou, while Sevilla stuttered to a 1-1 draw at home to Salzburg.
For Barca, it was the first time since Opta records began (2003-04) that they had failed to get a shot on target in a Champions League game, and Bayern's superiority condemned Ronald Koeman's men to three successive home defeats in the competition for the first time.
Prior to 2020-21, Barca had only ever lost two Champions League home games by three or more goals but that has occurred three times since – with Messi no longer there, many would expect their standard to plummeting further.
But Tebas insists the odd Champions League result does not necessarily mean anything, pointing out the Premier League arguably enjoyed its greatest period of growth during a European trophy drought.
"There is still a lot of the Champions League to go," he continued. "Last year it was the same and then everyone went through to the knockout phase.
"The level of LaLiga does not depend on a few Champions League games. When the Premier League grew the most, it was in a phase of six years without winning the main elite competition."
Bayern Munich always favourites against Borussia Dortmund, claims Goretzka
Bayern Munich will always be favourites to beat Borussia Dortmund, with Leon Goretzka suggesting no team can face Die Roten at Allianz Arena and have the upper hand.
The two teams meet in their first game back from the international break in what could be the most decisive encounter of the Bundesliga title race this season.
Dortmund hold a one-point lead over their rivals, who dismissed coach Julian Nagelsmann and replaced him with former Black and Yellow boss Thomas Tuchel last week.
Speaking ahead of the crunch clash though, Goretzka insisted the visitors' advantage in the league table means nothing when they go to Allianz Arena, given the hosts' pedigree.
"We are ready," he told SportBILD. "We want the 11th championship in a row. To quote Kylian Mbappe, we are always favourites.
"When we play at home, there isn't a team we don't go into the game against as favourites. I think [the pressure] is great.
"I really enjoy these games. As a player, you don't want to be part of the team that can break this series [and miss out on another title win]."
Nagelsmann's departure, despite guiding Bayern to the title last term and the Champions League quarter-finals this year, is a gamble for the Bavarian giants.
But in Tuchel, they have a former Champions League-winning coach from his time at Chelsea, and Goretzka hopes he can help retain their Bundesliga crown.
"We all know and appreciate his successes," he added. "[We] have great respect for his achievements and experience."
De Ligt: Nagelsmann sacking 'hard to swallow'
Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt was surprised by the club's decision to part company with head coach Julian Nagelsmann and says it has been "hard to swallow".
German heavyweights Bayern officially called time on Nagelsmann's 20-month reign on Friday and swiftly appointed Thomas Tuchel as his successor.
Nagelsmann won the Bundesliga in his only full season in Bavaria, but Bayern find themselves a point behind Borussia Dortmund with 25 games of this campaign played.
Bayern face leaders Dortmund in a huge clash on Saturday, while they also have DFB-Pokal and Champions League quarter-final ties to play in April.
And with the club still in the hunt for a treble, De Ligt – who has been away on international duty with the Netherlands – did not see Nagelsmann's sacking coming.
"I was surprised," he told Dutch TV broadcaster NOS. "We're second in the league and in the quarter-finals of the cups. We're still playing for everything.
"Those in charge decide who the coach is, but it was a difficult decision that is hard to swallow. But I also believe that Tuchel is a coach who suits us."
According to a report in the German media, certain Bayern players turned against Nagelsmann and effectively forced him out of the Allianz Arena.
But De Ligt, who has played 31 times since arriving at Bayern from Juventus at the start of the season, refuted those suggestions.
"Oh, the German media. That says it all," he said. "I had a good relationship with him and his team.
"I sent him a message and thanked him for everything he taught me.
"He really wanted me here at the club and was very important to me.
"Thanks in part to him, I have taken important steps in my development over the past few months."
Fati's father wants son to leave Barcelona despite Ansu's wish to stay
Ansu Fati wants to stay at Barcelona, but his father has other ideas.
The 20-year-old, who has been with the club for a decade, has made 38 appearances in all competitions this season but 27 of them have come as a substitute.
Bori Fati – who manages his son alongside agent Jorge Mendes – has been left angered by the situation and believes the winger deserves more minutes for Xavi's side.
"If it was up to me, I would take him [to another team] but [Ansu] wants to stay at Barcelona," Bori Fati told Spanish outlet Cope.
"He does not want to sign for another club, but I want to see him succeed. As a dad, I am angry.
"Seeing Ansu play so little winds you up a little bit, and sometimes I think as a father, not a coach."
Fati, who has scored six goals this season, is under a long-term contract with Barca, who are 12 points clear at the top of LaLiga.
And despite his father's wish, Fati has previously stated his desire to remain with Barcelona, where he feels at home.
"I'm under contract with Barcelona until June 2027, and I hope to stay here for many more years," he said in February.
"I feel grateful and lucky to play for Barca and I have to thank the people who support me daily for their backing."
The situation led to Bori calling a meeting with Barcelona sporting director Mateu Alemany, and agent Mendes.
Alemany reassured him of his son's role at the club, though Bori remains unconvinced the situation will change.
"I called Mateu," said Bori. "He told us that Ansu is part of the club's heritage, and they have bet big on him.
"As a dad, I think differently, maybe I am wrong. He is your franchise player, the number 10, he took [that number] on when no one was ready to take it from [Lionel] Messi.
"What annoys me is how they're treating him in terms of minutes. One minute, two, three.
"I am not asking for him to be a starter, because all the forwards at the club are phenomenal, but we are talking about Ansu Fati, of Spain and Barcelona, who came through La Masia."
It is now at the point where Bori no longer wants to visit Camp Nou to watch his son play.
"If it carries on like this, I will go [back] to [the family home in] Seville and that's that," said Bori.
"I didn't go to the game against [Real] Madrid. I won't go to the stadium anymore.
"The other day Ansu asked me why I didn't go, he thought I was there. I told him I didn't fancy it."
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