Florentino Perez staring at the year that could define his Real Madrid legacy | OneFootball

All signs point to the current term being Florentino Perez’s final one as the president of Real Madrid, and it is safe to say that it has already been one of the most difficult terms he has served.

A combination of economic, developmental and sporting decisions has forced the president into critical dilemmas that have all been decisive for the club’s future as an institution.

The sacking of Carlo Ancelotti and failure to secure Jurgen Klopp, the hiring of Xabi Alonso, Vinicius Jr.’s contractual situation and the renovation of the Santiago Bernabeu have all contributed in their own ways to the difficult 2025.

A more difficult 2026

As relayed by SPORT in a recent update, all signs point to 2026 being an even more difficult period for Perez.

The crisis in 2025 set up the foundations for key decisions, but their implementation will be in the new year.

The big decisions in the upcoming year start from the dressing room where a lot much change, both for the players and the management. 

For starters, Perez has a huge decision to make over whether or not Alonso is the right man to take the project forward, and that depends not just on results but on the football being shown on the field.

Needless to say, efforts to identify a replacement already preoccupy him.

Further, there is a sense of clarity needed on defining the hierarchy and roles of several key players, including Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius and Jude Bellingham.

Florentino Perez has a huge task at hand. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Added to that is the question of Vinicius’ renewal, something Perez sees to be a non-negotiable as he sees the player to be a part of the club’s heritage despite his poor form.

The fact that the manager does not see eye to eye with that stance does not help.

Beyond the sporting sense, Perez also has a lot of work to do in terms of the renovation of the Santiago Bernabeu.

The intention behind the €2 billion renovation was to use it for purposes beyond football, including events and concerns, something that is being actively resisted by nearby residents. 

The club’s economic situation and Perez’s credibility will revolve a lot around solving the Bernabeu question, for it was the basis behind the cash-intensive renovation.

Finally, Perez intends to change the ownership structure of the club and involve external investors – something that will likely create a divide within the existing community of socios.

To pull this off in his final term, needless to say, threatens his legacy at the club. 

All factors combined, 2026 will be a vital, pivotal and difficult year for the 78-year-old, and it will be interesting to see how he goes about it.