Inside Real Madrid election day: Raúl’s quiet vote, reporters’ golf cart and Florentino’s VIP party | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s election day ran from 9:00 to 20:00, with the final outcome emerging in the early hours. Both candidates acknowledged Florentino Pérez’s victory before official totals were released.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, the marathon produced a string of little-seen moments across Valdebebas.

Santiago Solari arrived quietly at 9:30 to vote. Pérez followed at 9:58 at Mesa 2, while Enrique Riquelme came around 11:00 and met a mixed response, some calling him a liar, others applauding.

Raúl González Blanco cast his ballot at 15:10, kept his head down and left via the car park. He had been earmarked as sporting director on Riquelme’s ticket if it won.

There were quirky scenes, including a member in a Riquelme cap and a Florentino scarf, and another voter with a parrot. With temperatures near 30 degrees, shade, water and umbrellas proved essential.

Reporters hopped between sites on a club-provided golf cart, while others stayed in the cool of the press room.

Riquelme’s team set up an invite-only zone at Eurocine with drinks and lemon slushies for the media. The campaign was estimated at 15 to 18 million euros, and ex-defender Miguel Torres was spotted. Around midnight, operations shifted to the headquarters.

After midnight, media gathered at Pérez’s Hotel Eurobuilding base as celebrations began. Anas Laghrari, his right-hand and future CEO, and head scout Juni Calafat, credited with signing Vinicius in Brazil, applauded his arrival. The night closed with a short vertical video from Mourinho, a speech and a rooftop party.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo