“Happy day for madridismo”
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Even after two disappointing sporting years in which no major title was won and much criticism of his leadership, Florentino Pérez remains President of Real Madrid. The 79-year-old construction magnate clearly prevailed against his challenger, the young entrepreneur Enrique Riquelme, in the Spanish record champions’ first presidential election in 20 years.
This gave Pérez a mandate for another term until 2030. With a three-year break between 2006 and 2009, the billionaire entrepreneur has been at the top of the club since 2000. “It is a very happy day for me and for madridismo,” Pérez told journalists on Monday night. “We will give everything to win the Champions League for the 16th time.” Since 2009, the Madrilenians have invested 1.93 billion euros in 76 additions – this is offset by income of 1.14 billion euros from player sales. With these expenses, Real ranks ninth internationally. Trams like Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and PSG afforded significantly more expensive entrances.
Almost a month ago – a few days after Los Blancos lost 2-0 in the Clásico at FC Barcelona, which secured the league title for their arch-rivals – Pérez called the vote as a kind of vote of confidence. Previously, Real had, among other things, failed in the round of 16 of the Spanish Cup against second division team Albacete and was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Champions League against FC Bayern Munich.
High admission hurdles make it difficult to run against Pérez
The long-time club boss had complained about a “campaign against him” after the series of bankruptcies. “They say I’m sick, I have incurable cancer. I’m taking the opportunity to tell the people who worry about me: I’ll continue to run the club and also my company, which has a turnover of 50 billion a year. My health is perfect,” emphasized Pérez in May.
After initially leading Real between 2000 and 2006 and shaping the Galactic era around Luís Figo, Ronaldo Fenómeno, Zinédine Zidane and David Beckham, Pérez regained the presidency in 2009 without any opposition. That summer, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso, among others, were signed for 258.5 million euros. Since then, no challenger has met the high eligibility criteria for a candidacy, so Pérez has been confirmed in office again and again without a vote.
In order to be allowed to run, Riquelme had to, among other things, deposit a guarantee worth around 187 million euros. This corresponds to 15 percent of the club’s total budget of almost 1.2 billion euros. However, his dream was dashed in the election at the Ciudad Real Madrid training center in the Valdebebas district, in which around 70,000 club members were entitled to vote.
Real Madrid’s Pérez hopes coach Mourinho will return
Before the election, Pérez promised “continuity.” He referred to the sporting successes that the club achieved with him as boss, and not just in football. And he also highlighted the economic strength of the club under his aegis as well as the comprehensive modernization of the
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
Challenger Riquelme had staged the election campaign as a generational duel. The 37-year-old entrepreneur had promised a fundamental new beginning, presented spectacular transfer plans – among other things, he promised to sign Manchester City’s Erling Haaland – and called for more participation among the members.
With his election victory, Pérez is further expanding his extraordinary era. The “Presidente” is considered to be the architect of what was probably the most successful phase in the club’s history. Under his leadership, Real Madrid won numerous national and international titles, including champions seven times
League. With the return of former coach José Mourinho, who coached Real from 2010 to 2013, Pérez wants to lead the team around stars Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé back to the path of success. Mourinho has won one title in the last nine years – the Conference League with AS Roma in 2021/22. According to media reports, Pérez also wants to bring Bayern star Michael Olise to Madrid. “Soon, on Tuesday, I will make an offer to a Champions League club that will be the highest sum that Real Madrid has ever paid for a player – at least 150 million,” Pérez said before his election victory.
Bayern President Herbert Heiner told the “Bild” newspaper: “Michael Olise is a FC Bayern Munich player who still has a long contract – and we are not a seller’s club. If Florentino Pérez wants to send us an offer – which hasn’t been the case so far – he can save himself that.”