Florentino Perez, the President of Real Madrid, has initiated surprise elections for the club, making the announcement during a press conference. This decision comes after a season where the club failed to secure any trophies. Perez was re-elected for another term until 2029 last year, having run unopposed.
Perez, aged 79, has held the presidential position since 2009, marking his second tenure after succeeding Ramon Calderon. His first period in charge began in 2000 and concluded with his resignation in 2006. While his leadership has faced scrutiny in the Spanish capital in the past season, few anticipated a direct challenge to his authority.
Perez Explains Rationale for Calling Elections
Before fielding questions, Perez revealed his intention to hold elections and elaborated on his motivations. He stated, “At Real Madrid, there isn’t just one owner; it’s the 1,000 members who make up the club. I’ve made this decision because an absurd situation has been created, provoked by campaigns against the interests of Real Madrid and against me. The results haven’t been the best, but in sports, you don’t always win. They’re taking advantage of the situation to attack me personally. They say, ‘Where’s Florentino?’ I don’t usually speak out. Some have even told me I have terminal cancer… I want to take this opportunity to let those who have been concerned about me know that I’m still president of Real Madrid and my company, and that my health is perfect. I couldn’t be in both places if my health weren’t perfect. If I had cancer, as has been said, I’d have to go to a cancer center. If I were, wouldn’t it have been all over the world?”
Florentino Perez Criticizes Media Reporting
A significant aspect of Perez’s press conference was his pronounced frustration with the media, specifically denouncing what he termed ‘fake news’. He remarked, “ABC, a newspaper that loves me dearly: ‘Before the Board meeting, Florentino says, ‘I’m very tired.” But do you think I say this before going in? David Sánchez de Castro, are you here? I’d like to say hello, to see why you published that. I get up early in the morning and go to bed last in the class; I work like a dog.”