Florentino Perez hits out at Spanish press – “They’ve overused the ‘let’s see if I leave’ mentality”

Florentino Perez hits out at Spanish press – “They’ve overused the ‘let’s see if I leave’ mentality”

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez called an emergency press conference today, during which he made the announcement that he will be calling for new club elections.

At the same time, the 79-year-old businessman voiced his concerns about how the Spanish press has been portraying the club in a negative light.

Apart from some disturbing rumours about him being diagnosed with cancer, which Perez dismissed, there were reports that he was ‘tired’ and questions about his future as president were being raised after a poor season on the field.

Responding to all of that, Perez said: “I don’t understand the Spanish press. They’ve overused the ‘let’s see if I leave’ mentality. I’m not going to leave. I’ll be the last member to leave. The members are the owners of Real Madrid.

“If someone wants to run for president, they shouldn’t just threaten, they should actually run and explain how they’ll finance it. They shouldn’t be asking the banks if the president of an electricity company can guarantee a candidacy…”

Recollecting how he helped the team in a difficult position back in 2000, he added: “In 2000, I guaranteed 174 million pesetas so the players could get paid. They weren’t paying the players.

“The players weren’t getting paid, and Bodo Ilgner ‘s wife came to ask me for money. Roberto Carlos, who’s still around, too… I had to contribute that money from my own pocket, and today Real Madrid are in a very healthy financial position.”

Talking about the team’s success and expressing his disappointment about the media criticism, Perez further noted:

“It’s the club with the most titles in the history of the world. The most valuable club according to Forbes . The most valuable brand. Why do journalists who criticize the most prestigious club with the most fans in the world want to interfere?