‘Everyone knows what has happened’ - Carlo Ancelotti slams Xavi and Barcelona with Negreira case dig as Real Madrid boss highlights ‘key issue’ amid VAR controversy

Following many contentious VAR decisions in Real Madrid's 3-2 victory against Almeria on Sunday, Xavi said to the media: "You all saw what happened, it will be difficult to win this league."

Later in the week, Barca president Joan Laporta made a far tougher statement after journalist Gerard Romero leaked the audio of an incident in the Almeria game which saw the referee disregard an elbow by Vinicius Junior on an Almeria defender: "La Liga is adulterated, and VAR has been taken hostage." Ancelotti claimed that it was a way to divert attention away from the Jose Negreira affair that has followed Barcelona for the last couple of years.

Speaking to the media about Laporta's comments, Ancelotti said: "This week they have talked a lot. I think the same as what I said before, I don’t like getting into this kind of thing. We don’t need to distract from the key issue. Everyone knows what has happened in the last 23 years in Spanish football, here is the problem. The League is not adulterated, Spanish football has had a problem. Now the anti-corruption prosecutor’s office and the police are carrying out the investigation and now we have to wait. We must not distract from the key issue."

Ancelotti was not forthcoming with his thoughts on Xavi’s comments: "I would prefer not to respond to that. I don’t want to reveal my personal thoughts on that."

The Negreira Case had a significant development this past week after a lack of evidence led Judge Joaquin Aguirre to decide to close the case of sporting corruption. Barcelona have subsequently been cleared of one major charge, but the case continues, and the club could still be charged with financial criminality.

Los Blancos will look to put aside the off-field issues as they take on Las Palmas on Saturday, January 27 as they look to take back the lead of the league from surprise title rivals, Girona.