Real Madrid president Florentino Perez held a press conference on May 13, addressing the club’s current situation and his own future. He made it clear that he will not resign and will instead initiate an electoral process.
“Thank you all for coming. I’m sorry to inform you that I will not be stepping down. I will start the election process,” Perez said.
Perez criticized the media narrative surrounding the club. “A ridiculous situation is being created against Real Madrid and against me personally. The team cannot win forever, but we cannot accept this. Some people are using this opportunity to attack me. Some ask, ‘Where is Florentino?’ If I don’t speak, they say I’m sick, even that I have advanced cancer.”
He also addressed rumors about his health: “I want to tell those who care about me that I am still the club president and I still manage my own company, which generates 50 billion euros in annual turnover. My health is excellent. If I really had cancer, I would be in an oncology center, and the news would have spread worldwide. That is not the case, yet the rumor becomes more absurd by the day.”
During the press conference, Perez displayed an article criticizing the club’s crisis and directly questioned a journalist from ABC newspaper. “How can you write this?” he asked.
Perez emphasized his commitment to success: “I am the one who wants to win every title the most. During my tenure, Real Madrid’s football team has won 37 trophies and the basketball team has won 29 trophies. I want to talk about those who have been stirring things up behind the scenes. Anyone who wants to run for the presidency, I welcome them. I will also participate in this election to defend the interests of Real Madrid members. They can’t scare me; on the contrary, they motivate me.”
He took aim at external forces trying to influence the club: “Some forces have always wanted to control Real Madrid, but they haven’t succeeded. At Real Madrid, it’s not journalists or those around them who make the decisions. People don’t trust them; they trust me. Some journalists think they are important and can influence the club’s decisions, but that’s not the case. The members make the decisions here. Don’t play small games. If anyone wants to run, step up. But don’t say I’m tired behind my back. Just because we didn’t win La Liga or the Champions League this year doesn’t mean I have to accept this narrative. They say Real Madrid is in chaos, but Real Madrid remains the most prestigious club in the world.”
Regarding the Negreira case, Perez stated: “The Negreira case is a sports corruption case that hasn’t been fully resolved yet. Some referees from that period are still officiating today. We will submit a dossier to UEFA to put an end to this situation.”
(Updated)