News Focus
- Perez calls for elections following a season without silverware, refusing to discuss sporting failures or the next manager
- He defends the physical clash between Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde, claiming players fight every season at Valdebebas
- The president attacks internal leaks and the media, suggesting enemies want to create chaos at the club
- Real Madrid prepares a 500-page complaint to UEFA regarding alleged refereeing bias toward Barcelona
- He dismisses crowd whistles and “resign” chants, challenging critics to stand against him in the upcoming vote
Florentino Perez has refused to accept responsibility for Real Madrid’s poor campaign during a fiery press briefing. The 78-year-old called for fresh elections on Thursday but spent the hour-long session attacking journalists and defending internal disputes rather than explaining the team’s trophy drought.
The club has failed to win a major title for two consecutive seasons. Supporters at the Santiago Bernabeu have shown their anger recently, with some fans shouting for Perez to step down. However, the president believes these protests come from troublemakers and ticket touts rather than true members.
During his speech, Perez addressed the physical fight between midfielders Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde. Both players received fines of €500,000 after the incident last week. Rather than criticising the athletes, Perez insisted such conflicts happen regularly at the training ground.
“In my 26 years here, players have hit each other every single year,” he stated. “They are young and competitive. One kicks, the other kicks back, then they drink coffee together. The real problem is the person who leaked this to the public.”
Perez argued that internal sources leaked the story because they fear losing their jobs. He claimed this betrayal causes more damage to the club than the actual fight. The president also suggested that certain media outlets are running a campaign to destroy his reputation.
He refused to answer questions about the future of manager Alvaro Arbeloa, who is expected to leave his post. Former Chelsea and Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is the leading candidate to replace him, though Perez would not confirm this. “We are not here to talk about coaches or players today,” he said.
The Real Madrid chief revealed that the club is compiling a 500-page document for UEFA. This report will allege that referees favour Barcelona due to the ongoing Negreira corruption case. Perez believes officials have made unfair decisions against his team throughout the season.
He also denied controlling team selection and transfers, despite widespread beliefs that he influences sporting decisions. Perez pointed to his record of seven European Cup victories as proof of his successful leadership. He invited anyone who disagrees with his methods to challenge him in the elections.
The upcoming vote will test Perez’s popularity after a difficult year. While some members want change, the president remains confident he will win another term. He promised to protect the club from what he called “bad apples” both inside and outside the stadium.