Tebas fires back at Real Madrid president after ‘Persona Non Grata’ statement – I am not being anti-Madridista’

The tension between La Liga president Javier Tebas and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez shows no sign of easing, as another round of statements has ignited fresh debate across Spanish football. 

Tebas, who has taken to his social media platform ‘X’ with remarkable frequency in recent days, responded publicly after Perez’s comments stirred frustration within La Liga’s leadership.

Despite the increasingly bitter exchanges, Tebas once again reminded the public of his long-standing connection to the Madrid fanbase. 

He reiterated that he has always been open about supporting Real Madrid, even as some within the club’s Assembly attempted to paint him as an adversary. 

“Today, at the Real Madrid Assembly, a member asked for me to be declared ‘persona non grata’ and the president responded: ‘I don’t know what we gain if we all agree’. 

“Some applauded. I, honestly, felt only one thing: sadness,” Tebas wrote.

A Real Madrid fan

He followed by reflecting on his early affinity for Real Madrid, a bond he insists no institutional disagreement can change. 

“I’ve been a Real Madrid fan since I was six years old, when I returned to Spain with my family. 

“Nobody forced me to be one. I didn’t inherit the membership card from my father or my grandfather. I chose to be a Real Madrid fan. 

“And being a Real Madrid fan isn’t something you get from a piece of paper, a vote at a meeting, or a seat in the stands. 

Persona non grata
Hoy, en la Asamblea del Real Madrid, un socio ha pedido que se me declarara “persona non grata” y el presidente ha respondido: “no sé qué ganamos si todos estamos de acuerdo”. Algunos han aplaudido. Yo, sinceramente, sólo he sentido una cosa: tristeza.

Soy… pic.twitter.com/WzMHrSX48E

— Javier Tebas Medrano (@Tebasjavier) November 23, 2025

“Madridismo is in millions of anonymous fans who suffer and enjoy with their team, often more than some who do have a card and an office,” he continued.

Tebas defended himself against accusations that he is anti-Madridista, insisting that his efforts have always been directed toward maintaining fairness and balance within the league. 

“I am accused of being anti-Madridista. I am not. And it hurts to hear that. I am still as much a Madridista as anyone else. 

“That is precisely why I defend a strong, competitive league, with value for everyone, where every club, big or small, has its place. 

“Because without a solid league, Real Madrid itself will also be smaller,” he explained.

Taking aim at the leadership

He then shifted the focus onto what he sees as the true source of the conflict. 

“Today, those who run Real Madrid are pushing for mega-competition projects that weaken and destroy the ‘home’ that helped them become great: La Liga,” he argued.

Tebas concluded his statement with a message directed at those attempting to exclude him from the Real Madrid identity. 

“They can call me ‘persona non grata’. They can try to expel me from the narrative of Madridismo. But what they cannot do is erase what I have felt since I was six years old. 

“Defending La Liga is also, in my own way, defending Real Madrid. And no assembly or label can take that away from me,” he finished.

Συμπέρασμα