Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are staging a visible thaw before Sunday’s meeting at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, with club presidents and executives due to share an official lunch hours before kick-off.
The gesture caps weeks of quiet diplomacy. Laporta and Atletico chief executive Gil Marin met and embraced at the European Football Clubs General Assembly in Copenhagen in late September, a moment both sides have since framed as the formal end of the hostilities.
A summer defined by one striker
The row was triggered by Barcelona’s pursuit of Argentina forward Julian Alvarez. Over the summer window, Barcelona pushed a bid toward €100m and set a 31 July deadline for Atletico to accept, but the Madrid club refused to negotiate. Alvarez eventually told sporting director Mateu Alemany he would remain, and Barcelona turned to Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus.
Gil Marin was the sharpest voice on the other side. He accused Barcelona of running a “private circus” around a contracted player and said he was disgusted by what he called a lack of “ethics, transparency and professionalism.” Barcelona vice-president Rafa Yuste hit back, calling the comments discourteous and lacking in respect.
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“Everything is clear”
Laporta told Mundo Deportivo the exchange with Gil Marin in Copenhagen had been short and warm.
“We saw each other and hugged. I’m sure we’ve already smoothed things over, and from now on everything is clear. He’s a fantastic man who I feel very comfortable with,” Laporta said.
Barca Universal, a fan-aligned outlet, first reported the plan for the pre-match lunch in Madrid and said Yuste and several Barcelona directors would travel with the squad for the gesture. Neither club has confirmed the guest list on the record.
Title race on the pitch
The diplomacy sits on top of a tight league race. Barcelona lead La Liga with 30 points after 11 matchdays, two clear of second-placed Atletico, with Real Madrid a further point back. Barcelona have won their last three; Atletico have won five in a row.
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The return fixture between the two clubs is scheduled for 2 December.
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