PÉREZ DECLARES WAR!
Real Madrid CF president Florentino Pérez has launched a fierce public attack on his political opponents after a rival candidate officially entered the club’s presidential race, accusing figures linked to former president Ramón Calderón of orchestrating a campaign against him and the club.
Speaking during the increasingly tense buildup to Real Madrid’s first contested presidential election in nearly two decades, Pérez claimed the emergence of challenger Enrique Riquelme had exposed the people he believes have been working “in the shadows” against his leadership.
“I called early elections, and now that there’s another candidate, we now know perfectly well who’s been running that orchestrated campaign against the club and against me,” Pérez said in remarks published by multiple Spanish outlets.
The longtime Madrid president directly linked the opposition movement to figures from the Calderón administration, one of the most controversial periods in the club’s modern history.
“It’s those same people from the worst era in the club’s history, the Ramón Calderón era,” Pérez said. “Those same people from his board, the same people who robbed the socios’ sovereignty, the people who committed the worst disgrace in the club’s history.”
Pérez also accused his critics of attempting to exploit Real Madrid for personal interests rather than protect the institution.
“These people aren’t here to save Real Madrid,” he declared. “They’re here to take advantage of Real Madrid.”
The comments come after businessman and renewable-energy executive Enrique Riquelme officially confirmed his candidacy against Pérez, marking the first genuine challenge to the Real Madrid presidency since 2006.
Riquelme, founder of Cox Energy, has positioned himself as a reform candidate focused on “democracy, transparency and a new cycle” at the club. He has criticized what he describes as growing disconnect between the board and club members, known as socios.
The election battle erupted after Pérez unexpectedly called early elections despite still having years remaining on his mandate. During an unusually combative press conference earlier this month, the 79-year-old insisted he was the target of an “organized campaign” designed to destabilize both him and Real Madrid.
“I’m here to say I’m not going anywhere,” Pérez said at the time. “If someone does want to stand for election, this is your opportunity. But don’t move in the shadows.”
The political turmoil follows one of the club’s most disappointing seasons in recent years. Real Madrid finished the campaign without a major trophy after losing the La Liga title to FC Barcelona and enduring growing scrutiny over sporting decisions, squad planning and internal leadership tensions.
Despite the criticism, Pérez has defended his record aggressively, pointing to Real Madrid’s dominance during his presidency, including six UEFA Champions League titles in ten years and sustained financial growth that has made the club one of the wealthiest sports institutions in the world.
The upcoming vote is expected to become one of the most politically charged moments in modern Real Madrid history, with debates intensifying over governance, transparency and the future direction of the club after more than two decades under Pérez’s influence.
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