Florentino Pérez will continue as president of Real Madrid after winning the club's first contested elections in 20 years, securing a mandate to push through his plans to sell 5% of the club. Pérez, who has been president for 23 years across two spells, polled 65% of the vote, defeating challenger Enrique Riquelme, who received 35%. A total of 33,555 members voted in the election.
The results were delayed after Riquelme challenged the validity of around 1,000 postal votes, with more than 400 ultimately struck off. Despite the challenge, Pérez's victory was clear, though the margin was narrower than anticipated.
Mourinho to Be Confirmed as Manager
The victory paves the way for José Mourinho to be formally announced as Real Madrid's new manager on Monday. The club will pay Benfica a €15m (£13m) release fee for the Portuguese coach. Pérez had also promised to make a bid of at least €150m for an unnamed "galactico," believed to be Michael Olise.
Riquelme, an energy millionaire from Alicante, had campaigned on a platform of opposing what he called Pérez's "privatisation" of the club. He proposed appointing Raúl González Blanco as sporting director and attempting to convince Jürgen Klopp to become coach. He also expressed confidence in signing Erling Haaland and Rodri.
Election Campaign and Controversy
The election campaign, the first in 20 years for Real Madrid, became a spectacle. Pérez called the snap elections during a press conference on 14 May, aiming to flush out opposition. Riquelme was given just 10 days to build a candidacy and had to present a bank guarantee of €178m, secured against his personal wealth. Two Spanish banks refused to provide the guarantee, but Riquelme eventually succeeded.
Riquelme described Pérez's Real Madrid as "like a feudal monarchy, the closest thing to a dictatorship" and questioned the role of Moroccan banker Anas Laghrari, who Pérez described as "like a son" and who has become increasingly powerful at the club. The campaign largely revolved around Pérez's plans to change the club's ownership structure, which he said would protect fan ownership by giving membership a financial value.
Pérez's Track Record and Future Plans
Under Pérez's presidency, Real Madrid have won seven European Cups and become the richest club in the world. However, recent years have been difficult, with the Super League project collapsing and the stadium rebuild encountering problems. Pérez's decision to sign Mourinho had to be put on hold due to the elections, but he eventually publicly confirmed the appointment.
Pérez also announced the signings of Denzel Dumfries and Ibrahima Konaté. Riquelme brought Raúl, Fernando Hierro, Iker Casillas, and Vicente del Bosque into his candidacy and promised to sign Haaland and Rodri, but both players' camps denied any agreements.
Ultimately, Pérez's grip on power has been tightened, with his presidency extended for at least another four years. During the press conference where he called elections, Pérez declared, "They're going to have to shoot me to get me out, because I have the support of all Madrid's members." While he did not receive unanimous support, it was enough to secure his victory.
