Real Madrid is the most successful football club in the world, the undisputed number one. But lately the club has often noticed negatively. Too often.
Other clubs can only dream of the title collection of Real Madrids: 36 championships, 20 cup wins, 15 Champions League triumph (formerly European Cup of the national champions) and many other successes adorn the club’s own museum. Many clubs look at Real Madrid, after all, the “royal” internationally the number one.
But the club hardly behaves “royal” in the recent future. Quite the opposite. Real Madrid often gives the impression that you want to take home the title of the worst loser. The club embarrasses itself regularly.
Association boss Florentino Pérez has given a certain line for several years, regularly reproached referees and senses conspiracies. In January, for example, he wished that referees from England would whistle in the Spanish league because the local referees allegedly cost his club several titles.
Pérez not only makes the impartial allegations. In autumn, the Delegation Real Madrids boycotted the award of the Ballon d’Or on his announcement because no own player got the title. “It is obvious that the UEFA Ballon d’Or has no respect for Real Madrid. And Real Madrid is not where it is not respected,” it said in a club notification. He was apparently not respectful that Real Madrid was named the team of the year, Carlo Ancelotti was named coach of the Year and Vinícius Júnior and Jew Bellingham made it among the top three players in the world.
In the past few days, Real Madrid has been negative again. Before the cup final against FC Barcelona on Saturday, the club’s own TV station showed a critical video about the referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, which, according to the association, is said to have made adverse decisions against Real in the past. Bengoetxea immediately rejected the criticism. In tears, he accused the club of damaging the reputation of the referees so much that even his son was insulted at school. The Madrilenen then refused to participate in the traditional press conference on the evening before and canceled the training before the game.
The cup final itself was overshadowed by violent discussions shortly before and shortly after the final whistle. After a whistle against Madrid’s striker Kylian Mbappé there was tumult on the edge of the field. Mbappé’s teammate Lucas Vázquez and Jew Bellingham saw the red card for swing tirades, the already replaced Antonio Rüdiger tore the ice cream bag off his knees and insulted the impartial in German. He threatens a long punishment. His apology does not change that either.
President Florentino Pérez is undoubtedly the maker Real Madrids. The many successes of the past few years are based on his work. But his permanent allegations and complaints create an unhealthy climate that also rubs off on the players.
Real Madrid also forgets the values of sport and the role model function of the club. After all, millions of children worldwide also depend on the “royal”. Pérez and Co. should gradually come to reason and switch back a gear to look like “royal” again.