COPE broadcaster Juanma Castaño has rejected a critical social media video published by Real Madrid, using his radio programme El Partidazo de COPE to answer the club point by point. According to Marca, the dispute escalated after the club released footage attacking Castaño’s work over the past decade, prompting the host to insist he would not change his approach or soften his commentary.
The Origins of the Dispute Over Real Madrid TV
The row stems from a column written by Castaño for the newspaper ABC, in which he compared Real Madrid’s official television channel to Gara, a publication with historical links to ETA. According to statements carried by El Desmarque, Real Madrid branded the comparison as deplorable and inadmissible. While Castaño publicly apologized for that specific comparison, he maintained his criticism of the channel’s editorial line.
Following the apology, Real Madrid TV and the club’s official communication channels issued responses rejecting his statements. The tension culminated when Real Madrid published a video targeting Castaño directly, accusing him of sustained bias over his decade-long tenure on the airwaves.
Castaño Directs Criticism at Florentino Pérez
Addressing his listeners, Castaño stated that he had received multiple videos and communiqués from the club attacking his professional integrity. He argued that Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez had turned him into a personal enemy, transforming a broadcast disagreement into an institutional crusade.
Castaño asserted that the club’s current sporting frustrations stem from Barcelona holding a six-point lead in the league table while playing well, insisting that his commentary has no bearing on the gap at the top. Despite the escalation, Castaño separated his criticism of Pérez from his view of the institution itself, maintaining that he still considers Pérez the best president in Real Madrid’s history based on his administrative achievements.
Next Steps in the Media Stand-off
Castaño confirmed on air that the pressure comes with the territory of sports broadcasting, admitting it bothers him personally but stating he will continue to speak from an honest position.
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