Audio leaked of Real Madrid President accusing business rival of assassination plot | OneFootball

Audio has been leaked of Real Madrid President Florentino Perez accusing one of his business rivals of a plot to assassinate him, seven years ago. Amid the elections, Catalan radio station RAC1 have got hold of the audio from seven years ago, and released to the public.

Perez is currently in a battle for power with Enrique Riquelme for the Real Madrid Presidency, the first contested elections in 20 years since Perez stepped down in 2006. The mud-slinging is in full flow, with Perez this week accusing Riquelme of being more interested in getting famous and getting rich from Real Madrid. The vote will take place this Sunday, with Perez widely expected to win a landslide vote.

Perez accuses business rival of assassination plot

Image via Real Madrid CF

During the press conference where Perez called elections, he challenged Riquelme to run against him, albeit without mentioning him by name. He has also insinuated that long-term business rival Ignacio Sanchez Galan, who is President of Iberdrola and an associate of Riquelme, is behind the presidential challenge. RAC1 have released audio from 2019, in which he accuses Sanchez of contracting former Spanish spy and whistleblower Jose Manuel Villarejo of a plot to assassinate him. The audio comes from a 2019 testimony that Perez gave to the court during a case against his construction company ACS, and Perez accuses Sanchez and Galan of conspiring against him.

“There are three things they have repeatedly told me. One, that the best thing is to make me disappear with an accident or a virus. I didn’t know they could make you disappear with a virus. Another thing they say is that they have to find the accounts that Florentino Perez has outside Spain and that they would pay a lot of money for that. And the other is to invent a child, and sell the story to the press.”

He later goes on to deny that he has any offshore bank accounts, and the case, brought by Castor, was dismissed.

Perez involved in election process

Perez is currently engaged during the election process, where he has promised to bring in signings, and is expected to appoint Jose Mourinho as his new manager. He has also promised a referendum on plans to sell off 5% of the club to an investor, changing the ownership model of the club. Riquelme is campaigning on an opposition to this idea, and promising that there will be an improved experience for club members when they go to the stadium.