How the Messi-Barcelona situation impacts on Real Madrid
Real Madrid's bitter rivals Barça are in turmoil, with their talisman requesting to leave, but Ramon Calderón does not think that is a good thing for Los Blancos.
Barcelona's on- and off-field woes cannot be seen as a positive for bitter rivals Real Madrid, according to the Spanish champions' former president Ramon Calderon.
Barcelona's Messi affair bad for Madrid
The Catalan club are dealing with the fallout from a trophyless 2019-20 campaign that culminated in a humiliating 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Quique Setién has already been replaced as head coach by Ronald Koeman, and Ramon Planes was promoted to take over from Eric Abidal as first-team technical secretary.
Barca were then rocked on Tuesday after all-time leading scorer and club icon Lionel Messi informed them of his intention to leave, with a number of others also expected to move on.
Related articles:
However, Calderón insists the turmoil at Camp Nou could negatively impact Madrid in a wider sense and is hopeful Barca will soon return to their best.
"It is important to have a team like Barcelona in our league, and for Real Madrid as well to have as a rival," he told Stats Perform News. "It makes both teams better.
"It used to happen with Cristiano [Ronaldo] and [Lionel] Messi. The fact that both have been in those teams made them better players.
"It encouraged them to improve themselves and win more trophies in order to beat the other. It is the same with Real Madrid and Barcelona.
"The clubs are always in a competition. This is what should happen between those two clubs."
Calderon, who was president of Madrid between 2006 and 2009, added: "This time is not good for Barcelona, that's clear.
"So, what is not good for the rival, in theory is for good for the other. But I don't like it. I never liked it when it happens to any team.
"I have always said Barcelona is a very big team. It is not an enemy. I have always had a great relationship with the presidents and the board I met.
"I was always well-treated there and I tried to do the same with the ones who came to our stadium. It is clear Barcelona is in a tough time, but hopefully they will overcome it.
"It is not good to have such a big team [in a situation] like this and I am sure they will overcome the situation. And even if it is for good for Real Madrid in some aspects, I don't like it.
"I wish them to fix it and keep giving glory to Spanish football. I wish them to keep competing and winning titles, when they don't face Real Madrid, obviously."