Florentino Pérez Calls for Real Madrid Presidential Elections Amidst Crisis

Florentino Pérez, the long-serving president of Real Madrid, announced on Tuesday his decision to call for presidential elections at the club, following a significant sports crisis that has left the most decorated football team in the world without titles for two consecutive years. "I regret to inform you that I am not going to resign. I have asked the electoral board to start the process for the elections to the board of directors that we are going to present," Pérez stated during a packed press briefing at Ciudad Real Madrid in Valdebebas. The 79-year-old businessman expressed disappointment over the current situation, emphasizing, "An absurd situation has been created against Real Madrid and against me. You don't always win, but we don't accept it. They take advantage of this situation to attack me." In his remarks, Pérez also addressed rampant speculation about his health amidst the crisis. Denying rumors of having a serious illness, he responded firmly, "If they say I have cancer, I would have to go to an oncology center. It would have been reported everywhere in the world. It is not true, and that rumor has grown." Pérez's history with Real Madrid is well-documented. He first became president in the summer of 2000, winning the elections with a total of 16,469 votes and defeating the then-president Lorenzo Sanz. His ascension was catalyzed by the bold electoral promise of signing Luis Figo from FC Barcelona, a move that would set the stage for the club's Galácticos era, featuring football legends like Ronaldo, Zidane, and David Beckham. However, his first tenure ended unexpectedly in February 2006 amid another sports crisis, during which he acknowledged that he had "badly educated the players." He returned to the presidency in 2009 as the only candidate in the elections, and since then, has reaffirmed his leadership multiple times without any other candidates presenting themselves. During his tenure, Pérez has achieved remarkable success, winning the European Cup seven times and lifting seven league championships, in addition to various national and international titles, including achievements in basketball. Now, he seeks to solidify his position once more in the upcoming elections as Real Madrid navigates this challenging period. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2