Figo harbours Perez grudge

Luis Figo claims Real president Florentino Perez went back on a personal promise.

Figo departed Real in somewhat acrimonious circumstances last summer after being squeezed out of the first-team picture in Madrid.

He joined Internazionale where he has since established himself as a regular in Roberto Mancini's side, but still harbours some bitterness over his exit from Real.

Perez, who launched his presidency on the signing of Figo from arch rivals Barcelona in the summer of 2000, appears to be the man towards whom the Portuguese star bears the biggest grudge, insisting that the Real supremo had promised the two men would only ever leave the club as they had joined, together.

"We arrived at Real together, united by the same project," Figo told La Repubblica.

"He said we had entered the Bernabeu together and that we would leave together as well.

"However, I left on my own. I believed what he said.

"Perez did not keep his word, he did not respect our pact."

Figo, 33, also went on to criticise the 'galactico' mindset that Perez has installed at Real, claiming that the Madrid titans have become side-tracked by their pursuit of media coverage and financial gain.

"A couple of years ago there was a change (at Real Madrid), a change in the philosophy behind decisions and relationships at the club," he continued.

"Economic interests and commercial strategies became more and more important."