Real Madrid President Florentino Perez, typically a man of few public pronouncements, recently broke his silence, and his words have proven to be a disquieting revelation. Unlike the outspoken Joan Laporta or the self-aggrandizing Javier Tebas, Perez has historically maintained a more reserved public persona, often wielding influence behind the scenes. However, his recent press conference offered a stark contrast, revealing a leadership style that is as problematic as it is unexpected.
The initial announcement of elections, while seemingly routine, was overshadowed by the inherent lack of genuine competition. The exorbitant bank guarantee required to even stand for candidacy effectively disenfranchises the vast majority of potential contenders, rendering the electoral process a mere formality, more likely to be won by a lottery ticket holder than a challenger to Perez’s tenure.
Perez’s social views, long perceived as conservative, are further underscored by his wealth. As the head of Real Madrid and the construction conglomerate ACS, which recently secured a lucrative contract with the Spanish Ministry of Defence, his personal fortune continues to grow. This financial security perhaps explains his apparent detachment from the club’s immediate sporting successes, viewing them as just one facet of his multifaceted business empire.
When the club faced calls for strong leadership, Perez instead opted for self-pity. In a manner characteristic of some La Liga figures, he painted himself as a victim of media persecution, dredging up the familiar Negreira case. His press conference descended further into personal attacks, labelling journalists as “ugly” and casting doubt on the footballing acumen of a female journalist, Maria Jose Fuentealamo, stating: “Look at these two articles they’ve published today. One of them was written by a woman who I don’t know if she knows anything about football or not.”
Such misogynistic remarks are deeply regrettable, especially in the current climate. Coincidentally, ABC’s director was reportedly changed shortly after this exchange, though any direct link remains unconfirmed. Until this week, Perez was considered the bedrock of stability at Real Madrid. However, figures like Alvaro Arbeloa have clearly struggled to command the dressing room, evidenced by internal disputes. Even Xabi Alonso, unable to galvanize the squad, was let go. Arbeloa’s appointment was presumably intended to foster harmony, but his tenure has been marked by public apologies for disappointing performances.
This season has been particularly challenging for Real Madrid, even with the acquisition of Kylian Mbappé. The club has suffered losses, much to the satisfaction of their rivals. A period of introspection and self-criticism is desperately needed. Instead, Perez erupted, launching broadsides at various individuals and even targeting South American accents. The stunned silence of journalists, irrespective of their affiliations, spoke volumes. Perez, in this moment, resembled the footballing equivalent of Donald Trump – an aging figure whose public pronouncements have become increasingly erratic and damaging.
Perez’s intention was to shift the media’s focus away from the club’s internal turmoil and toward his accusations against the press. While this tactic has sometimes proven effective, it failed spectacularly this time due to its excessive and indiscriminate nature. Barcelona swiftly responded with a statement addressing the allegations, particularly concerning the Negreira case, and it’s plausible that Joan Laporta will leverage this incident for political gain. Following widespread condemnation, Perez doubled down, granting an interview to El Chiringuito’s Josep Pedrerol – a platform that seems to align with his current level of discourse.
English Translation:
COLUMN: Florentino Perez – A Discourse You Wouldn’t Buy If You Were Owned by Him
Real Madrid President Florentino Perez has never been one of the loudest voices in Spanish football, or at least, not directly. He doesn’t possess the bombastic personality of Joan Laporta or the narcissism of Javier Tebas. For years, he rarely spoke to the media, his words carrying weight because he, in essence, owns much of it. Until last week, it was often preferable that he remained this way.
I regret having heard his recent words. It began with Real Madrid’s president calling for elections. Arguably, these elections hold little significance, as their fairness is comparable to that of North Korea, given that fewer than five individuals in Spain can afford the bank guarantee required to even stand for candidacy. You’re more likely to win Spain’s Christmas lottery jackpot than to face Perez in an election. Somehow, this was the least controversial aspect of the press conference.
It’s hardly news that Perez holds regressive social views. He embodies the typical wealthy, older white man, accumulating vast sums of money through the club and his company, ACS. The construction conglomerate was awarded a new contract by the Spanish Ministry of Defence last autumn, which, in simple terms, means Spain’s 10th wealthiest individual is becoming even richer. This is likely one of the many reasons Perez appears nonchalant about his club’s sporting success – it’s merely one of his many income streams.
When fans expected Perez to demonstrate leadership, he failed them. In a classic Spanish approach – at least within La Liga – he victimized himself rather than addressing any core issues. He claimed the media was against him and ranted about the Negreira case, a familiar tactic for Real Madrid these days. Worse still, his personal attacks led him to call journalists ‘ugly’, and he had a particularly unpleasant exchange with ABC journalist Maria Jose Fuentealamo, stating: “Look at these two articles they’ve published today. One of them was written by a woman who I don’t know if she knows anything about football or not.”
Resorting to misogyny in football in 2026 is appalling, to say the least. Coincidentally, ABC’s director was changed half an hour after this argument, whether related or not. Until this week, Perez was the sole element of stability at the club. Alvaro Arbeloa lost the dressing room long ago, as evidenced by multiple disputes (some physical) behind the scenes. He had already fired Xabi Alonso, who also failed to convince the players of his ideas. Arbeloa was expected to calm things down, as a ‘yes-man’ is always a convenient choice. Or perhaps not, given that the only lasting memory of his tenure is his mea culpa after every disappointing performance.
This season has been one of the worst in recent years for Madrid, despite the arrival of Kylian Mbappé. Real Madrid has suffered losses, much to the delight of the Catalans. There are numerous reasons why self-criticism is urgently needed at Real Madrid. Yet, Perez went ballistic instead, deciding to lash out at anyone – even targeting South American accents. I have never witnessed so many journalists – regardless of their affiliations – remain speechless after listening to a decaying old man, who has become the football equivalent of Trump.
Perez attempted to divert attention. He wanted Marca, ABC, and Diario AS to focus less on an imploding dressing room. This tactic usually works, but this time, it didn’t. He tried too hard by attacking virtually every person he could. Barcelona reacted within an hour with a statement, due to the numerous accusations [regarding Negreira] among other things. Knowing Laporta, I wouldn’t be surprised if he uses this incident for political point-scoring. After universal criticism, Perez decided the answer was to continue speaking. This time, to El Chiringuito’s Josep Pedrerol. At least he found a suitable platform for his current level of seriousness.
