Pérez Attacks Rival Again, Cites Club World Cup as Reason for Trophy-less Season

Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has once again launched an attack on his upcoming election rival, Enrique Riquelme, emphasizing his own contributions to the club's development this century. He also cited the club's participation in last summer's Club World Cup as the reason for their trophy-less season.

“Riquelme’s proposals are disastrous and full of lies. These individuals are only interested in Real Madrid for their own gain. I cannot allow the same people from that ominous era to regain power at the club. It’s the same crowd: the sons, the friends, the brothers. This is a movement to take over Real Madrid, to make it exclusively theirs. Does anyone truly believe that under my leadership, the best players in the world wouldn't be here? Do you think that’s the case? If I tally it up, all the best players in the world are here. So far, I’ve brought in players like Luís Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo Nazário, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé… I’m not like those who claim they’ll sign someone, only for their agent to call me and say it’s a lie. I don’t need to say these things, my track record speaks for itself.

We have won 15 European Cups with various coaches. A coach must identify with the culture of Real Madrid. If you have the best players, along with a coach who puts everyone in their rightful place, success will follow. We won the Champions League six times in ten years. Yet now, they come and tell me everything is terrible. It’s unbelievable. It’s a lie that I plan to sell the club. Real Madrid will always belong to its members. I risked my personal money, with the chance of losing it, to save Real Madrid. If necessary, I will die to ensure that Real Madrid’s wealth remains its own and its fans’. I want this wealth, not just the sentimental but also the real, financial wealth, to belong to the club members. And when they pass away, for it to be inherited by their sons or grandchildren. What they truly want is to bring in many more 'socios' so that the club starts losing value and becomes worthless.

In the 2024/25 season, we fought hard, but simply didn't win any trophies. However, the Club World Cup truly derailed us last season. After the previous campaign ended, we went to the Club World Cup, and immediately after its conclusion, we returned here to start the new season. So, we had no pre-season preparation whatsoever. That's why, within three to four months, we had 28 injuries in the first team. Never in my life had I experienced such a thing as president of Real Madrid. But one learns from such experiences. We will see what we can do for the next Club World Cup and its organization, to avoid such injuries in the subsequent season,” commented Pérez in an interview with La Razón.