MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid’s edgy president Florentino Perez confronted journalists in an unusual press conference Tuesday, claiming he was the victim of an “organized campaign” to unseat him.
Perez called for new club elections and told opponents to come forward and challenge him and the board.
“I want to talk about all the people who I believe are behind this campaign… There are people who are working behind the scenes to run for office. Well, let them run,” he said. “This is an opportunity I’m giving them.”
Usually calm and soft-spoken, Perez appeared agitated and began arguing with the media at a hastily scheduled press conference at the club’s training center two days later. Madrid lost 0-2 to Barcelona And their Catalan rivals won their second straight Spanish league title.
Perez, 79, said: “I have taken this decision due to the absurd situation of a campaign that is against the interests of Real Madrid and especially against me.” “The result was not the best, but something like this has happened before. But they are using it against me.”
He said the campaign against him was “orchestrated by bad journalists and non-journalists,” naming several newspapers and journalists.
“Some journalists and people want to destroy Real Madrid,” he said. “I will always protect the interests of the members of Madrid.”
The president spoke after the club’s board of directors meeting.
Although Madrid failed to win any major trophies for the second consecutive season, French star Kylian Mbappé within the team.
Perez did not elaborate on his team’s results, saying his appearance was simply to protect Madrid’s club members from attack. When asked about the possibility of Jose Mourinho returning next season, he declined to discuss the possibility of a new manager.
“I share the same frustration of not winning anything this year,” he said. “I’m the first to want to win everything. Let me remind you that during my presidency, we won 66 titles in football and basketball, 37 in football and 29 in basketball.”
Perez said Federico Valverde and Aurélien Choameni were fined after a fight between players during training last week was leaked. 500,000 euros ($586,000) each—worse than the actual match itself.
“This is not the first time the players have fought each other,” Perez said. “It happens almost every season. But for the first time someone leaked. And we know who it is. It should have remained within the club.” He did not go into further details.
I’m not tired, I’m not sick
Perez denied rumors that he was tired of work or that he was sick, saying they were spread by his detractors.
“They told me I had cancer and it was terminal,” he said. “It was the most disrespectful thing that ever happened to me. They told me I couldn’t go out, I couldn’t walk.”
Perez is a highly successful construction businessman who is in his seventh term as Madrid’s president after two different terms. His current term is scheduled to end in 2029.
“I want to assure those who are worried about me that I will continue to preside over Real Madrid and my company every day,” he said.
Perez spoke for more than an hour, answering questions.
“You can stay here all afternoon,” he said finally. “I really had a great time.”
Negreira
Perez said he would provide UEFA with “important documents” relating to millions of euros in payments to rival Barcelona and the company of Jose María Enriquez Negreira, former vice-president of the Spanish Football Referees’ Board.
Barcelona has always denied any wrongdoing or conflict of interest, and said it had never tried to influence the referee’s decisions in a match, although it paid for a technical report on the referees. Mr. Negreira also denies wrongdoing.
“Three years ago, we learned about a corruption case known as the Negreira scandal,” Perez said. “There is no precedent in the history of world football. This is the biggest scandal in history and remains an ongoing and unresolved scandal.”
“We have prepared important documents and will immediately submit them to UEFA so that they can address this issue at its root and in the interests of world football.”
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