Real Madrid President Florentino Perez has made a surprising move in Spanish football by announcing elections during a press conference convened by the club on Tuesday evening. Perez had previously been confirmed as president until 2029, having run unopposed in the last election.
The 79-year-old Perez, who has led the club since 2009 after unseating Ramon Calderon for his second tenure, previously held the presidential role from 2000 to 2006. While his leadership has faced scrutiny in the Spanish capital throughout the past season, few anticipated his position to be under threat from any potential challengers.
Perez Explains Decision to Call Elections
Before fielding any questions, Perez declared his intention to hold elections and elaborated on his rationale.
“At Real Madrid, there isn’t a single owner; the club is comprised of its 1,000 members. I have made this decision because an absurd situation has arisen, fueled by campaigns targeting Real Madrid’s interests and myself. While results haven’t always been optimal, in sports, one doesn’t always win. They are capitalizing on the current situation to attack me personally. People are asking, ‘Where is Florentino?’ I don’t typically speak out. Some have even spread rumors about me having terminal cancer. I want to use this opportunity to assure those concerned about my well-being that I remain the president of Real Madrid and my company, and my health is excellent. I couldn’t manage both roles if my health were not perfect. If I had cancer, as has been reported, I would need to be at a cancer center. If that were the case, wouldn’t the news have spread globally?”
Florentino Perez Criticizes Media Reporting
A central theme of Perez’s press conference was his expressed frustration with the media and his denunciation of ‘fake news’.
“ABC, a newspaper that supposedly holds me in high regard: ‘Before the Board meeting, Florentino says, ‘I’m very tired.’” “Do you truly believe I would say that before entering a meeting? David Sánchez de Castro, are you present? I would like to greet you and understand why you published that. I wake up early and go to bed late; I work tirelessly.”
