The El Clasico is on collision course with history tomorrow. Real Madrid players, meanwhile, have been on collision course with each other.
For the first time in history, the result of El Clasico could give one side La Liga title. Barcelona need only to draw to win the title. The mood in Catalonia is thus one of imminent celebration.
The mood in Madrid is one of internal strife and external disbelief at not only the implosion of a season but the collateral damage that is being inflicted in the dressing-room.
Federico Valverde, the Uruguayan forward, was taken to hospital this week after an altercation with Aurelien Tchouameni, the French midfielder. It was the second row in two days between the pair and despite the Uruguayan’s protests that no blows were sustained or even thrown, the incident screams of a dressing-room divided. For the record, Valverde has said a cut was sustained when he hit his head on a table.
Real are conducting an investigation but Guillem Balague, the peerless observer of La Liga, has exclusively told Daily Mail Sport that the club needs a ‘mini revolution’.
‘Right now the culture of the team is rotten,’ he said. ‘Carlo Ancelotti thought last year it was the hardest dressing room that he ever had to deal with.’
Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde had in a training ground bust-up this week
The problem at Madrid is that there may not be the will to enforce a dramatic change of culture. The front three debate may be instructive. Paris St Germain changed tack when Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe left and Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue or Bradley took their places.
The result was a longed-for win in the Champions League and a place in the final this year.
Such a pragmatic approach, however, is hardly in the DNA of Madrid or their president Florentino Perez.
‘First, Madrid have been successful over the years. Since 2014, Real have won the Champions League six times. It is working as long as the right balance is found,’ said Balague.
The Galacticos ethos has a solid financial imperative. ‘Real Madrid are outliers. They need brands to bring the big brands. It is about prestige.’
The instrument and instigator of this policy is Perez. At 79, he retains his vitality and his purpose. The demand of Real Madrid is to be the most successful and the most glamorous club in the world. It is a precept he holds dear to his heart.
Whatever happens at the Camp Nou tomorrow, Real will not win the league. This will condemn them to a second consecutive trophyless season. This is, of course, unacceptable but the solution is hard to find.
Perez has gone down the route of employing technically gifted managers. But this goes against his grain. Rafa Benitez, Julen Lopetegui and even Xabi Alonso were appointments that he had to be convinced to make.
‘They have tried method with managers and football is going that way. But Florentino gets rid of these managers as soon as he can. He does not believe in that. There are conversations with Jose Mourinho to take over because he has that high profile.
‘He is not the only one Madrid is talking to but time wise it is the best option. Perez likes Mauricio Pochettino but he will be at the World Cup with the USA. He is said to like Didier Deschamps but I don’t believe that. He likes Jurgen Klopp but he has said no.
La Liga expert Guillem Balague believes Real Madrid have a huge summer ahead of them
‘Perez wants the team to play well, of course, but it is more important not just to play but to win. Right now, the culture of the team is rotten.’
Balague, who has been in Britain for 30 years, has gained a justified reputation as an authoritative voice on La Liga through his books and his appearances on television. His scrutiny of the league is unrelenting and his contacts are at the highest level of the game.
He knows the state of the dressing room at Real and the scale of the task. ‘It needs a big personality as manager. But, even then, it is not easy,’ he said.
For example, Andoni Iraola is leaving Bournemouth after a highly successful spell but is highly unlikely to be on Real’s radar. ‘Vinicius Jr and Mbappe would be saying: “Who is this guy?”.
The forwards are part of the problem at Real and it remains to be seen if they can be part of the solution. Mbappe has drawn ire from fans for flying off to Sardinia with his girlfriend when he was recovering from a hamstring injury.
It prompted 30 million fans to sign a petition calling for him to be sold. The numbers are likely to be highly inflated but there is a deep discontent with the Frenchman within the club and the fan base.
Vinicius Jr has grown frustrated within the club and there is speculation that Manchester City might bid for him in the summer.
‘There is no leadership with the team,’ said Balague. ‘There is no big voice. Mbappe is thinking of himself, Vini thinks no one is protecting him. Within the club there is a lot of division, so whoever comes in has a lot of work to get right.
‘You have to correct the culture but to correct the culture you need the leadership of the club to believe that is the problem. I don’t think Perez thinks that way. It is all very complicated.’
There is, in contrast, stability at Barcelona. Hansi Flick, the head coach, is almost certain to sign a new contract and the major question is how to replace Robert Lewandowski who will leave in the summer.
Supporters have made their feelings known regarding the behaviour or Kylian Mbappe
The spending restrictions tied to income are being addressed and this means they could have the 100m euros to buy Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid.
‘They need full-backs too and there is speculation that Alesandro Bastoni of Inter Milan is a target for centre-back. The squad is now becoming deeper.’
Barcelona, though, are not convinced about Marcus Rashford who is on loan from Manchester United.
‘He is desperate to make it easy for them to buy him. He has been superb. His stats are outstanding. In the recent history of foreign forwards only Luis Suarez has had a better first season.
‘But Barcelona want a Raphinha-type. Aggressive in the press and in one on ones. Barca don’t want to spend £30m on Rashford but he is making it easy for them by lowering his wage demands.’
There is collateral damage to two English players from the Madrid implosion. Jude Bellingham has had a mediocre season after his stellar debut campaign. Balague believes injury and expectations have impacted on that situation.
He is stunned, however, over Thomas Tuchel’s disregard for Trent Alexander-Arnold. ‘That I don’t get,’ he said. ‘There is no perfect player but Trent adds so much going forward.
‘I told him once that he could be the new Toni Kroos as he comes inside and passes so well. We laughed at that but he has so much talent. He could be a big part of what comes next for Madrid.
‘Next season there will be three or four new players in the line-up with bigger personalities and he may benefit.’
But that will be then. This is now. Real Madrid, brittle and divided, face the sternest examination in the Camp Nou tomorrow. They have to fight together, not against each other.
■ Guillem Balague was previewing Premier Sports’ exclusive coverage of FC Barcelona v Real Madrid live on Premier Sports tomorrow (Sunday) from 7.30pm).
