Real Madrid chief denies political motive behind Ceuta visit

The Real Madrid delegation's trip to Ceuta comes amid heightened attention following gestures of support from several players, who rolled up their shirts to display messages backing the North African enclave. The president's office moved to distance the visit from what it characterized as separate recent developments involving the squad.

Ceuta, located on the Moroccan coast but administered by Spain, has been the subject of diplomatic tensions in recent years. The autonomous city's status remains a point of contention in Spain-Morocco relations, with competing claims over sovereignty.

The club's leadership emphasized that the institutional visit had been scheduled as part of regular engagement with stakeholders and regional representatives. Officials stressed the trip reflected Real Madrid's broader commitment to its communities and did not represent a response to individual player statements or actions.

Real Madrid has not publicly detailed the specific agenda for the delegation's visit to Ceuta. The club said it remained focused on maintaining relationships across all territories where it has supporters and institutional interests.