Official reception at the Spanish Embassy in Riyadh

The official reception for the Spanish Super Cup was held this Saturday evening (19:00 local time) in the diplomatic quarter of Riyadh, at the Spanish Embassy in Saudi Arabia. The event was presided over by the Spanish ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Jorge Hevia Sierra, and was attended by the president of the RFEF Management Committee, Pedro Rocha, as well as Real Madrid and FC Barcelona presidents, Florentino Pérez and Joan Laporta.

The Super Cup trophy, and the Antwerp ball with which the tournament is being played, were placed in the courtyard of the Embassy, in front of the space reserved for the dignitaries and at the height of the lectern from which they addressed those attending the event.

The Spanish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Jorge Hevia, welcomed all the guests and congratulated the finalists, praising their expansion and international recognition. Hevia underlined "the impact that Spanish football has in Saudi Arabia", with agreements that will be "good for our football and good for this country". "Help us make this country and the process of transformation and growth it is going through better known," he asked those present, before wishing both teams luck.

An important tournament for Spanish football

For their part, Florentino Pérez and Joan Laporta, accompanied by various members of their boards of directors, took the floor during the event to highlight the importance of the tournament and the fixture for Spanish football. The Clasico, the two presidents agreed, leads to excitement and passion all over the world.

Florentino Pérez pointed out that both finalists have a global following of 1 billion followers on social networks, which shows their global importance. "Tomorrow's match will be a celebration of football, a football that knows no borders," he said.

Joan Laporta, for his part, expressed his satisfaction with the location of the Super Cup and the international visibility it gives them. "Thanks to the RFEF for giving this competition the worldwide relevance that it is being created by it being played here," he said.

"Football's transforming spirit".

Pedro Rocha, on behalf of the RFEF, closed off the speeches by highlighting the transformative spirit of football that drives this Super Cup. "This competition is extremely important for us, as it allows Spanish football to open up to the world," he underlined.

"The Spanish Super Cup is a unique competition that allows us to experience the best football, as will be demonstrated here in Riyadh tomorrow," said Rocha, before insisting: "The Spanish Super Cup must bring union, fraternity and equality; above all, equality.

Pedro Rocha thanked the RFEF staff for their commitment, emphasising "they have been away from home for a week, making all this possible,". When referring to the match officials, he said "you are doing your work with total transparency," he pointed out to the assembled representatives of the referees and the presidents of the territorial federations present in Riyadh.

At the end of the event, the Spanish ambassador was presented with the following gifts: the Antwerp ball, on behalf of the RFEF, and the shirts of both teams, presented by their respective presidents.