One would almost think that the bottom had been reached, but today’s press conference with Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez was strange at best. “Everyone thought it would be about the appointment of Jose Mourinho as the new manager, but that was not an issue at all.
What it was in addition to announcing the election of a new club president, the whole press conference was simply strange.
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Pérez called a surprise presidential election in Real Madrid – three years ahead of time – during a press conference on Tuesday.
A wealthy businessman is reportedly ready to challenge Florentino Pérez in the Real Madrid presidential election.
During an explosive press conference on Tuesday afternoon, the incumbent president Pérez confirmed that he had asked Real Madrid’s board to initiate a new election – despite the fact that he was re-elected without opposing candidates as late as January 2025.
“I have asked the board to start the election process for the election to the board, in which the current board will participate,” he stated.
“If someone wants to stand for election, this is their chance. But don’t act in the shadows with publications and news outlets.
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Florentino Pérez with prolonged blowout during press conference
Pérez has been president of Real Madrid for 23 years since 2000 – he resigned in 2006 before being re-elected in 2009 – and has led the club through a remarkable period of success on the pitch.
The 79-year-old has not had a single opposing candidate since his second term began – partly because very few have managed to raise the necessary funds to run for election.
However, that may be about to change this time.
Enrique Riquelme, a businessman from Alicante who is president of the Spanish global water and energy company Grupo Cox, is “ready” to run, according to MARCA.
It is said that he was not “taken by surprise” by Pérez’s sudden announcement on Tuesday.
Spanish newspaper El Confidencial also reports that Riquelme has already secured the necessary funding to run in the presidential election, and that his team includes former Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
Riquelme is said to have attended an event in April that was attended by the club’s members, but no further details about what this event was about have been made public.
Who can challenge Florentino Pérez to become Real Madrid president?
Unlike other clubs, a presidential candidate must meet a number of strict criteria, set out in Real Madrid’s official statutes, in order to participate in the electoral process.
The candidate must provide a guarantee for about 15 percent of Real Madrid’s current budget. According to AS, this amount is around 189 million euros, and there must be a collective agreement between the presidential candidate and the board.
A bank guarantee must be provided “according to the conditions established by Spanish law and the club’s statutes”, and the bank must “confirm that the guarantee is based exclusively on the personal wealth of the candidates”.
The candidate must also have been a club member for 20 years before he or she is eligible to stand for election.
In addition, the candidate must be Spanish – Pérez caused controversy when, in his press conference, he referred to a candidate, believed to be Riquelme, as a person who spoke with “a funny accent … South American or Mexican.” The candidate may also not be active in any role for another club at the time he or she is running for election.
