The Real Madrid presidential elections enter their decisive week, the second of the campaign, in an atmosphere of growing tension. The crossfire attacks between Florentino Perez and Enrique Riquelme continue after an intense weekend, which began with an interview with the acting president in El País and the candidate’s response on Sunday afternoon.
Florentino’s project to put part of the club up for sale is emerging as one of the major battlegrounds of the elections. The source of the controversy lies in the initiative put forward by Florentino Pérez to grant the so-called “economic ownership” to the nearly 100,000 Madridista members. The project envisages the sale of a minority stake, close to 5%, with the aim of having an external investor determine the club’s real value, a figure that, according to Pérez, differs from the estimate published by Forbes.
Florentino Pérez argues with fans as security removes anti Florentino banner in seconds
“I will not die until I have made the club’s economic ownership belong to its members,” Florentino said in the aforementioned interview, published shortly before both candidates met at the Di Stéfano to watch a Real Madrid women’s match.
I will not die until I succeed in making the club’s economic assets belong to its members
Faced with what he considers “the greatest threat to our club in our history”, Riquelme made a direct appeal to Madridismo through the media from the headquarters of his candidacy. “I ask the people to make the result of these elections the clearest possible message: Real Madrid is not for sale. This must be the greatest mobilization in our history,” explained the businessman from Alicante.
I ask the people that the result of these elections be the clearest possible message: Real Madrid is not for sale. This must be the greatest mobilization in our history.
No new names
No new developments emerged yesterday, however, regarding the names of professionals linked to the two candidacies. Florentino did speak about José Mourinho, but postponed the decision on the coach until the conclusion of the electoral process. “He gave us tremendous competitiveness. With him, we reached three Champions League semifinals and, for various reasons, we did not make it to the final. And from then on, the others, who were also good coaches, won six Champions Leagues in 10 years. But I have not spoken with Mourinho,” he added.
For his part, Riquelme did not give further details about the possible signing of Rodri, although some media outlets in England claim that the player’s camp is not categorical when it comes to confirming it. The big date now for the candidate is set for Wednesday, when the identity of the second of the “two international stars” secured by the presidential hopeful is due to be announced. Riquelme is also expected to reveal in the coming days his proposal for the dugout, a coach about whom he has said: “He is not an experiment, he knows how to manage”.
A key week, then, for learning Real Madrid’s immediate direction. There are barely six days left until the elections, and both candidates have brought out the big guns to try to convince the Madridista members.
