UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin made his feelings clear about Real Madrid president Florentino Perez in an explosive 'leaked' text message, according to a new report.
The pair haven't exactly shared the greatest relationship in recent years, with the tipping point arriving when Perez was one of the key forces behind the creation of the European Super League.
Ceferin opposed the Super League, and responded by attempting to bring in new reforms to the Champions League as a way of preventing the proposals from moving forward.
In the media, he brandished then-Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward and Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli - both of whom were involved in Super League negotiations - as 'snakes' and said: "Football is not all corrupt. Just a small part, led by greed and people who don't care about anything else."
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He went on to call Perez 'the president of nothing', and remarked: "Perez would like a [UEFA] president that will listen to him and a president that will do as he tells him. But I am trying to work in European and world soccer's best interests."
Now, leaked text messages have emerged from December 2019 - at a point in time when initial discussions over a European Super League began to take shape.
The Objective have had access to messages exchanged between Ceferin and the former UEFA vice-president and Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales, who is currently banned from football and is set to stand trial for kissing Spain's Jenni Hermoso on the lips following the Women's World Cup final last year.
Their exchange began on December 6 - hours after Ceferin had claimed that the Super League - led by Real Madrid and Perez - would 'ruin football and its environment'.
The Slovenian official also called the proposals 'selfish and egocentric'.
In a text message, Rubiales told Ceferin: "I will speak with Florentino cause here in Spain if I have against me Tebas and Florentino, will be impossible for me. Let us think what is the best thing. He is a very proud man. I think we can try and speak to calm all, but I will continue 100% with you. Don't worry for this."
Ceferin then replied: "I am also proud don't forget. I don't want to speak with him. I would do it only because of you. He's an idiot and a racist! Don't calm things for me, I don't need it. I just want you to be strong."
SPORTbible has contacted representatives at UEFA and Real Madrid for further comment.
Last year, Perez met with Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior after repeated instances of racial abuse from supporters.
The Spaniard confirmed he had reported one incident to the Attorney General's Office and filed a report with the Prosecutor's Office against hate crimes and discrimination.
He also demanded that 'zero tolerance' be taken when it comes to 'the mindlessness of racism, xenophobia and hate', and added: "We will not tolerate any more racist incidents with our players. Vinicius is the victim. It's a disgrace that some want to convert him into the guilty party for becoming one of the best players in the world.
"We can't go on like this in Spanish football."
Topics: Florentino Perez, Real Madrid, European Super League, Football, UEFA
Ryan Smart