In a fiery emergency press conference, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez firmly rejected any possibility of resigning, while announcing he is calling for club elections. He made it clear that he will only step down if the members vote for another candidate.
Florentino Pérez on the reasons behind the election
“An absurd situation has developed around the club because there are people trying to damage the image of Real Madrid and attack me personally. The results this season were not what we expected, and some individuals are taking advantage of that to spread lies and negativity about me. They ask where Florentino is, they say I no longer exist, and some even spread rumors that I am seriously ill. I want everyone to know that I continue to work every single day leading Real Madrid, just like I continue running my company, ACS. My health is absolutely perfect and I am fully focused on the future of this club. People can say whatever they want, but I am still here working harder than ever.”
Florentino Pérez on claims that he is tired
“Before the meeting even started, there were reports saying that I am tired and no longer capable of leading this institution. Of course, it hurts because people forget everything we have achieved together over the years. It’s true that this season has been disappointing because we failed to win trophies, but during my presidency we have celebrated 66 titles. That success did not happen by accident. Some people are trying to create a false image that I no longer have the energy for this role, but if I sometimes look tired, it is because I work every day for the good of Real Madrid. As long as the members support me, I will continue fighting for this club.”
Florentino Pérez on his critics
“I say to all the people criticizing me from behind the scenes: stop hiding and come forward if you truly believe you can do a better job. Present yourselves properly, gather the support, and run in the elections. Why does nobody step forward? Maybe because they know how difficult it is to manage a club like Real Madrid and because they are afraid of competing against me. I have always respected democracy at this club, and the members will always have the final say. But I will not leave because of pressure from the media or from people trying to create chaos around the institution.”
Florentino Pérez on Barcelona
“For more than two decades, there were payments being made while many of the same referees remained involved in Spanish football. This is not something that should simply be ignored because it affects the credibility of the sport itself. Real Madrid will present a complete dossier to UEFA because football deserves transparency and fairness. We are not speaking about a small controversy but about an issue that has damaged trust in the competition. UEFA must investigate this matter seriously for the good of world football.”
Florentino Pérez on the Negreira case
“The Negreira case represents systemic corruption and one of the most shocking scandals football has ever seen. What surprises me most is hearing some people say we should simply forget about it and move on. How can anyone forget something of this magnitude? We have spent two years gathering evidence and preparing a 500-page dossier that will be sent to UEFA. I have personally spoken with officials about this matter because there is no precedent for such a case in the history of football. It is impossible to understand how referees connected to that period are still involved in competitions today.”
Florentino Pérez on corruption in football
“This situation must be taken seriously because European football cannot continue living under suspicion after allegations that span over 20 years. UEFA cannot allow the credibility of football to be questioned forever. We are going to continue until the truth is fully known because this is not only about Real Madrid, it is about protecting football itself. We will wait to see what happens both on the criminal side and on the sporting side, but we are convinced that this issue deserves the highest level of investigation.”
Florentino Pérez on the dossier being prepared for UEFA
“We have worked on this dossier for two years because we wanted to collect objective facts and evidence instead of empty accusations. This is not about attacking Barcelona personally or creating more division in football. It is about defending the integrity of the sport and making sure something like this never happens again. We are determined to see this process through until the very end because the credibility of football is too important to ignore.”
Florentino Pérez on Real Madrid’s season
“This season has been painful because Real Madrid cannot be satisfied ending a campaign without trophies. I have spent many years here and experienced both success and disappointment, but I still believe this club deserved more. There were decisions throughout the season that harmed us, and we even prepared videos showing the points we believe were unfairly taken away. I cannot stay silent when I feel Real Madrid has been treated unfairly. Despite everything, we will continue working to make this team stronger and return to winning ways.”
Florentino Pérez on the training ground fight
“I think the worst thing is not that players fought, because these situations happen in football every season. In my 26 years at Real Madrid, there has never been a year without arguments or fights between players. Football is full of emotion, pressure, and strong personalities, so sometimes players lose control in training before making peace again the next day. What truly worries me is that the story was leaked to the public because internal matters should stay inside the dressing room. The fact that this became public for the first time suggests there are people trying to create unnecessary problems around the team.”
