Bruno Fernandes Sparks Chaos: Calls Real Madrid âThe Most Hated Club in the Worldâ
Football was rocked this week after Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes made explosive allegations against Real Madrid, branding them âthe most hated club in the worldâ and accusing them of manipulating matches and bribing referees.
The Portuguese midfielderâs outburst, delivered in an interview with British media, ignited a firestorm across Europe. Madrid supporters flooded social media demanding an apology, while pundits condemned Fernandesâ claims as baseless and damaging.
Florentino Pérez Hits Back
It didnât take long for Real Madrid president Florentino PĂ©rez to fire back. In a terse but devastating nine-word statement, PĂ©rez dismissed the comments as:
âIrresponsible, unfounded and defamatory.â
The blunt reply, released via the clubâs official channels, was hailed by Madrid fans for its authority and decisiveness, placing Fernandes under immense pressure to walk back his claims.
Fernandes Forced to Apologize
Within hours, Fernandes publicly retracted. On his official X account, he wrote:
âMy words about Real Madrid were inappropriate. I respect the club and their fans, and regret any offense.â
While some supporters accepted the apology as a peace offering, others dismissed it as lukewarm, noting the damage had already been done.
A Rivalry Reignited
This episode has reopened old wounds between Manchester United and Real Madrid, two giants with a history of fiery clashes in the Champions League and high-profile transfer battles.
Even though Fernandes has backtracked, his words may linger in the build-up to any future encounters between the clubsâfueling an already fierce rivalry.
For PĂ©rez, the saga reinforced his reputation as a president unwilling to compromise the clubâs prestige. For Fernandes, it was a harsh reminder of the powerâand perilâof words in footballâs global spotlight.