Florentino Perez has called for presidential elections at Real Madrid and launched a fierce offensive against what he described as “anti-Madrid” media outlets and Barcelona, in a public appearance that left no room for doubt about his intentions.
“Thank you all for coming. I regret to inform you that I will not resign. I will call elections,” Perez declared, addressing the media in his first public appearance since 2013. The Real Madrid president took aim at everyone and everything, making it clear he would not step down amid recent controversies.
“Don’t say that because two players fought, Real Madrid is in chaos. Fights happen every year. Leaking this to the press is worse than the fight itself. By the way, they are two excellent young men,” Perez said, referring to reports of a physical altercation between two Real Madrid players. He also pledged to “put an end to all bad journalists.”
Addressing rumors about his health, Perez stated firmly: “My health is excellent. If anyone says I have cancer, I should be in an oncology center. This rumor has spread across all media, but it’s not true.” He mocked reports that suggested he was “tired” and directly challenged the journalists he believed were spreading falsehoods.
The Real Madrid president singled out several media organizations for criticism, including Vocento Group, Relevo, and ABC. “ABC belongs to Vocento Group. They created Relevo, and we all know what that is. Partnering with LaLiga, they started a digital newspaper that has lost 25 million euros during its existence. When LaLiga stopped paying, they went to Telefonica and Telecinco to see if they would pay. Their only goal is to attack Real Madrid and its president. It’s unfortunate, because my father used to read ABC, and I subscribed for many years. But now I have decided to cancel my subscription as a tribute to my father.”
Perez also turned his attention to Barcelona, which he described as the biggest enemy. “We have won nothing? I don’t know how many seasons I have been here, and we have won seven Champions Leagues and seven league titles. It could have been 14 if they hadn’t been stolen. We have made a video about the 18 points that were stolen from us this season,” he claimed, referencing the Negreira case. “We learned about the Negreira case three years ago. It is the biggest scandal in history. They have been paying for twenty years, and in this third decade, it’s the same referees. We will present an important dossier to UEFA to fundamentally stop and resolve this case for the benefit of world football.”
Defending his leadership and the club’s value, Perez said: “This is the most successful club in world history according to Forbes, the most valuable brand. Why are journalists targeting this club, the most prestigious with the most fans in the world? If it’s everyone’s asset, I am ashamed to say I have been elected the best president in history. According to Transfermarkt, we have the most valuable squad. We have everything.”
Regarding the stadium renovation costs, he refuted claims that the initial budget of 600 million euros had ballooned to 1.3 billion. “The 600 million was for the first roof contract. After that, we did underground construction and stadium decoration. I want to put an end to this anti-Madrid trend spreading in the press. I call elections to defend the members. Some people, from a journalistic perspective and from other areas, want to take over Real Madrid. I have been here for 26 years, and I will not allow it.”
Perez repeatedly emphasized the importance of maintaining the club’s member-owned structure: “Some people want to end Real Madrid’s membership model. We are at a moment when the club must continue to belong to its members. I must end this absurd campaign. But never has there been a better Real Madrid in history. I will defend myself because I want to defend this institution. Today we are not talking about players or coaches,” he said, adding that he would deal with “internal enemies” while pointing out that he has the support of all members.