Florentino Pérez calls elections at Real Madrid after scandal | OneFootball

Florentino Pérez broke his silence, and he did so forcefully. The Real Madrid president appeared before the media this afternoon after the Board of Directors meeting, and in just a few minutes he cleared up doubts, denied rumors, and issued a blunt challenge. First, he announced the start of the electoral process to renew the board of directors, in which he will run again. Then he responded to those who had cast doubt on his health: «Some people have said I have terminal cancer. My health is perfect.» And he ended with a phrase that sums up his mood: «Let them stand in the elections — now they have the opportunity. I’m going to run to defend the interests of Real Madrid.»

The main announcement was clear from the outset. «I have asked the electoral board to begin the process for the board elections, in which this Board of Directors will stand again,» Florentino said, putting to rest speculation about a possible resignation that had spread in the days leading up to the emergency call.

But the president did not stop at the announcement. He came out fighting with an energy that left no doubt about his state of mind. He acknowledged the trophyless season but put it into perspective: «I share the frustration, because this year we haven’t been able to win anything. But I have to tell you and show you that with me as president we have won 66 titles in football and basketball, including seven European Cups in football.» A record he used as a shield against criticism.

Florentino also used the press conference to deny reports that had circulated about his physical condition: «Some people have said I have terminal cancer. I want to take this opportunity so that the people who have been worried about me know that I am still presiding over Real Madrid and my company. My health is perfect. If I had cancer, as has been said, I would have to go to an oncology center. If I had gone, wouldn’t it have appeared everywhere in the world?» He was also direct about the context that, according to him, prompted his appearance: «An absurd situation has been created, driven by campaigns against the interests of Real Madrid and against me.»

One of the most striking moments came when Florentino pulled out his cellphone in the middle of the press conference and read aloud a headline from the newspaper ABC claiming that he had said «I’m very tired» before going into the Board meeting. «Do you really think I would say this before going in?» he asked, looking around for the journalist who had written it. «David Sánchez de Castro, are you here? Just to greet you, to see why you publish that. I get up early in the morning and I’m the last to go to bed. I work like an animal.»

And he kept firing: «I want to speak to those behind this campaign, moving in the shadows. Let them stand in the elections — now they have the chance to do it. I’m going to run to defend the interests of Real Madrid.»

He was also blunt about the role of the press in the life of the club: «I came to Real Madrid so that its members would be the ones in charge. Journalists think they say something and people believe them. People believe me.» And he recalled a story going back decades: «Do you remember José María García? I started with him. Here at Real Madrid, the members are in charge as long as I’m here.» The president was clear about why he decided to speak out: «I have to come out and stop this. I can’t accept that there are people in the media who have taken over the situation. Less than two years ago I won a Liga and a Champions League, and now Madrid is ruin and chaos. How can it be chaos?»

The press conference also had an unexpected chapter when Pérez brought up the Negreira case: «Three years ago we found out that we are facing a corruption case like the Negreira case, which is the biggest scandal in the history of football. It is incomprehensible that we are still seeing referees from that time in our league.» He also announced a concrete step: «We are preparing an important dossier that we are going to present to UEFA immediately.» A statement that promises to open a new front in the already turbulent current affairs of Spanish football.

The president closed with a defense of Real Madrid as an institution and one final blow to his critics: «Madrid is the strongest and most valuable brand in the world, the club with the greatest reputation in the world. Why do journalists want to go after the most prestigious, most highly valued club with the most followers in the world? It belongs to everyone.» And as for those who aspire to challenge him for the presidency, he showed no fear:

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.