Barcelona's celebration after winning the Super Cup was accompanied by a controversy that quickly spilled off the field. The focus shifted to Kylian Mbappe and images that circulated after the match, showing the French striker speaking with several of his teammates before the Real Madrid players headed directly to the locker room, without forming the traditional guard of honor for the champions. The gesture, common in some tournaments as a sign of sporting respect, is not mandatory, but it usually generates debate when it is omitted. In this case, the scene was interpreted by some Barcelona supporters as a sign of discontent from the Real Madrid team, and especially from the French striker, who reportedly urged the group not to participate in the honoring of their rivals. The images ignited discussion on social media and sports programs, fueling the perception that the rivalry between the two clubs had entered a new phase. In Barcelona, the situation did not go unnoticed, and it was the president himself, Joan Laporta, who publicly addressed the incident after the final.

Real Madrid's version and Laporta's reaction

From Real Madrid's perspective, the explanation was different. ESPN revealed that the club stated there is no rule requiring the losing team to give the champion a guard of honor. They also indicated that the players were instructed to position themselves in another area of ??the field so as not to interfere with the camera shots during the post-match ceremony.

Despite this clarification, Laporta expressed surprise at what had happened and directly questioned the French striker's behavior. "I'm surprised by what Mbappe did. In victory and defeat, one should be generous and respectful. This is sport, and normal behavior is expected. I believe that in our victory, we were generous and respectful of the opposing team. That's why I can't understand it," stated the Barcelona president. Laporta also provided context for the atmosphere surrounding the match. Marked by the accumulated tension of recent clashes between the two teams. “There was a different atmosphere since the league match, and the players were a bit fired up.It's understandable. The truth is, I didn't see that moment with Mbappe on the pitch, but I understand that it must have been a really tough time. “They must have been really upset, and that's why they reacted that way.” The Barcelona president went further in analyzing the match and what he thought Real Madrid's interpretation of the game was. “I think they already imagined that we had a better chance of winning this match, but they were able to confirm it on the pitch, and that, in the end, is tough because you see what's really going on,” he said in an interview with Rac1 after the match.