He had to resign. He did just the opposite. This Tuesday, May 13, Florentino Pérez urgently summoned the media for one of the most electric press conferences of his reign at the head of Real Madrid.
Result: a declaration of war, announced elections, and a frontal charge against part of the Spanish press.
“I will not resign”
For several weeks, pressure has been building up on President Merengue. A La Liga and a Champions League lost, a blank season difficult to digest for the socios, and behind the scenes, rumors which are growing: Florentino is tired, weakened, ready to hand over. Some media even went further, referring to a serious illness.
Facing journalists, the boss of Real Madrid brushed all this aside. “Some say I have terminal cancer. I am in perfect health and I continue to chair the club and my industrial group, which generates 50 billion euros in annual turnover,” he declared, in a particularly sharp tone.
Elections to regain control
Big announcement of the evening: Florentino Pérez asked the electoral commission to organize new elections to the board of directors. An apparently democratic decision, but above all strategic. By calling this vote himself, the president seeks to validate his legitimacy among the members of the club, at a time when his detractors are agitating in the shadows.
“I call for elections to defend the socios. At Real Madrid, they are the owners, not the journalists or their networks,” he insisted, phone in hand, reading aloud certain articles that he considers to be misleading, targeting the ABC and Relevo media by name.
A balance sheet brandished like a shield
To justify his legitimacy, Pérez recalled the extent of his track record. Since his return to the presidency in 2009 – after a first stint between 2000 and 2006 – the club has won 37 titles in football and 29 in basketball. “I’m the first to want to win everything. But not winning La Liga and the Champions League this season does not justify this completely invented media chaos,” he insisted.
A clear message to potential candidates
Florentino also launched a direct challenge to those eyeing his chair from the sidelines. “Let them stop operating in the shadows and present themselves openly. Let them explain how they intend to finance their campaign.” An invitation as cold as a warning.
After 26 years of cumulative presidency, the Madrid businessman shows no sign of political exhaustion. Better, he seems galvanized by the critics. “They give me energy,” he concluded with a smile.
One thing is certain: the war between Florentino Pérez and part of the Spanish press is only beginning.
