Barcelona president snubs Real Madrid function

The heat ahead of next week's Real Madrid-Barcelona clash is beginning to simmer after Barca president Joan Gaspart chose to snub a pre-match luncheon organized by Real counterpart Florentino Perez.

Gaspart has declared he does not wish to share a table with Perez and also said he would not be watching the game from the Santiago Bernabeu theatre box.

The relationship between the two men has cooled considerably since August when Barca attempted to sign Fernando Morientes, amid claims of trying to sabotage Ronaldo's move to Real.

Gaspart is still fuming over Real's invitation to Carles Puyol to play in their Centenary match, particularly as contact was made without the knowledge of Barcelona and while Puyol was still negotiating a new contract.