If this news were disseminated from Catalunya, it might read something like this: "A pair of scurvy madridistas will knock around a tennis ball in front of a few cretinous fans at the home grounds of the villainous team who brave Barca routinely defeat."
In less partisan terms, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will attempt to raise money for charities and also attempt to break a record for "most spectators at a tennis match" when they meet in an exhibition inside Real Madrid's Bernabeu stadium on July 14. They hope for a turnout of 80,000 people.
This sounds laudable as an engine for raising funds, in part for the Rafa Nadal Foundation, which focuses on "social work and development aid particularly for children and youth". Nadal was inspired to create his foundation when he played in a Red Cross charity football match and was impressed by how much money was raised.
The match will, however, hammer home the news that Nadal is a thorough fan of Real Madrid, and it will be recalled that Djokovic has been a guest at Real's facilities and worn their shirt before a tennis match in the Madrid Open.
It would be no surprise if neither player gets a warm reception when the ATP Tour visits Barcelona next week. Andy Murray and Roger Federer may find themselves suddenly quite popular.
It could be a "no good deed going unpunished" moment. But when football allegiances are involved, someone is sure to feel less than charitably inclined.
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