Real Madrid in Severe Financial Crisis, Presidential Candidate Warns

“Real Madrid is facing an extremely severe financial crisis,” claims Enrique Riquelme. This statement was made during his penultimate campaign speech, delivered at his headquarters shortly after Florentino Pérez's electoral event concluded. The election is scheduled for tomorrow (Sunday).

Riquelme directly accused the current president: “I tried to run a clean campaign, but we must demand transparency and accountability. There is no greater democratic fraud than leading members into snap elections without them knowing the true state of their club.”

He continued: “In a very short time, Real Madrid has squandered over 770 million euros in liquidity, the club's coffers have shrunk by 99%, and cash reserves have plummeted to just a few million. It has reached a point where some analyses warn of a real risk to future economic viability if urgent measures are not taken.”

Riquelme announced that he would order a public audit within the first 100 days if elected. Regarding Jürgen Klopp, he stated: “This has been discussed between the parties. Currently, he has no intention of coaching anyone, but Raúl will try to convince him starting Monday.” When asked how he would convince him, Riquelme replied: “Giving him freedom of action and clear hierarchy are key.”

“These elections have already proven worthwhile. They served a very simple and important purpose: to demonstrate why democracy at Real Madrid is necessary and what happens when someone tries to run the club without providing explanations to its members. Just 15 days ago, many Madridistas didn't know who Anas Laghrari was, nor what Florentino Pérez intended to do with the club. Thanks to information published by various media outlets, we, the members, learned that Florentino wants to sell Real Madrid and that Anas Laghrari, the president's right-hand man, got rich by 'saving' Barcelona.”

“Today, furthermore, two national newspapers, El Mundo and El Economista, feature on their front pages the news we all suspected: Real Madrid is in an extremely severe financial crisis. Today we know, not from transparent information from the club, but from journalism, that Real Madrid has squandered over 770 million euros in liquidity in a very short time. That the coffers have shrunk by 99%. That cash reserves have plummeted to just a few million.”

“We also know that the debt related to the 'Bernabéu' reconstruction and other financial operations has reached unprecedented levels, to such an extent that some analyses warn of a real risk to future economic viability if urgent measures are not taken. Now we understand the necessity and urgency to sell: Madrid is in a severe financial crisis.”

“I want to make something clear to the members hours before the vote: from Real Madrid, we must demand at least the same level of transparency and accountability that we demand from politicians. When a case of opacity erupts in a government, we demand explanations, resignations, and accountability. Today, on the front pages of economic and general press, news of political scandals shares space with headlines discussing Real Madrid's debt, the collapse of its coffers, and its plans to sell off parts of the club.”

“It cannot be that in a democratic country, fraud has consequences, yet in our club, members are expected to live in delusion, unaware of the real situation. And those of us who demand transparency are labeled as bad Madridistas. We are not the bad Madridistas for asking questions; it is those who hide information from the legitimate owners of the club, namely the members. That is why today I want to ask Florentino Pérez three very simple questions, which we insist he answers tonight.”

“We, the members, will vote tomorrow, and we have the right to do so with the full truth on the table. There is no greater democratic fraud than leading members into snap elections without them knowing the true state of their club. All information will eventually come to light. Please, do not delay telling the truth to the members any longer.”

“I have tried to run a clean campaign, acknowledging what has been done well and talking about football. My project over these two weeks was to prioritize the members and create a wave of enthusiasm. But today, with this data, it would be irresponsible to remain silent. Therefore, I commit to something very specific: if I become president of Real Madrid tomorrow, an external, independent, and complete audit will be conducted within the first 100 days, and it will be fully published for all members and media.”

“We will uncover the truth, identify those responsible, and I guarantee that we will implement a viable economic plan to ensure that Real Madrid remains a club of its members, not a financial plaything in anyone's hands. If they don't know how to fix what's broken, let them not continue to run forward. It's time for them to stop, apologize, and let other members fix things.”

“As stated in the press release, this is something that has been discussed between the parties. Currently, he has no intention of taking on any club, but we have clearly stated that Raúl will try to bring Klopp in starting Monday. He is our only coach and the one we will try to convince. How? With transparency, hierarchy, professionals, and freedom of action. This is the fundamental basis for any coach to come to Real Madrid. The hierarchy between the parties must be clear. This is fundamental to convince Klopp.”