Iniesta leaves Barça TV stunned over the Modric situation, they've come out burned

One of the most recent controversies in Spanish soccer is, without a doubt, the comment that FC Barcelona's official media made about Luka Modric's departure. During the broadcast of the friendly against FC Seoul, the match commentators left a very particular remark about the influential Croatian midfielder that has caused many negative reactions.

"His last great service was the pass to Koundé in the Copa del Rey final, from here our recognition", they remarked sarcastically. While it's true that they later acknowledged he has been a player with an almost indelible legacy, the mockery had already been made. That's why all the gestures from Real Madrid toward the club and its most memorable players quickly emerged, always in a very different tone from that comment.

One of the most memorable is led by a FC Barcelona legend: Andrés Iniesta, who spent the last years of his professional career as a footballer in Japan. The squads of legends from both teams played a Clásico in the Land of the Rising Sun as a tribute match for the midfielder from Fuentealbilla.

Always paying attention to details, the white delegation in the Asian nation traveled with several gifts for the legendary midfielder, as a memento of his entire career and that special day. Among them was a jersey, printed with his name and the number he wore at FC Barcelona, as a sign of recognition for his undisputed talent as a footballer. A much-remembered official statement was also published, cited repeatedly these days.

Another controversy this summer

It was precisely that tribute that sparked the comparisons. Real Madrid's willingness to recognize footballing talent, even if it played for its biggest rival in national competitions, has nothing to do with the treatment received by Luka Modric. FC Barcelona's reputation in the eyes of the public has suffered another blow, thus adding another controversy to a rather turbulent summer.

Despite the best efforts of the board of directors led by Joan Laporta, the entity based in the Catalan capital has several open fronts. Many believe, with the controversy arising from the comment made about Luka Modric, that the gap between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona is widening even more than in previous years.

It's no coincidence that the white club, both institutionally and among its fans, has always known how to recognize footballing talent when it has been in front of them. The tribute to Andrés Iniesta, as well as the memorable applause for Ronaldinho at Santiago Bernabéu, are examples that have been widely recalled in recent hours to highlight that distance.

The comment about Luka Modric, issued by FC Barcelona's official media, has triggered a wave of criticism and comparisons, especially because of the tribute to Iniesta, which is taking its toll. This new situation keeps a major debate about the ways both entities are managed, an issue that has remained in the background since Joan Laporta's return to the presidency.