‘They’ve come here to take over Real Madrid’: Perez launches blistering attack on Riquelme

In a blistering interview with the Spanish publication La Razón, Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez launched a scathing rhetorical assault against opposition candidate Enrique Riquelme and his campaign associates, characterising their platform as a deceptive threat to the club's traditional governance.

"His proposals are ruinous. They're lying. They've come here to take over Real Madrid. Nothing more," railed the 79-year-old incumbent.

Pérez framed Riquelme’s potential election as a regression to a "dark period" in institutional history, explicitly connecting the opposition challenger to former management circles.

"I cannot let them take over the club again. It's the same people: the sons, the friends, the brothers," Pérez stated.

The long-serving club president expressed immense frustration with Riquelme's public efforts to attract voting members through ambitious transfer market assurances. When questioned about these campaign manoeuvres, Pérez defended his executive track record regarding elite talent acquisition.

"Does anyone seriously doubt that, under my leadership, the world's best players will continue to line up for Real?" Pérez retorted, leveraging the club's historical prestige as the cornerstone of his reelection bid.

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The Challenger’s Transfer Assurances

The verbal salvo follows recent high-stakes declarations by Riquelme during a separate interview with the daily newspaper ABC. The 37-year-old challenger asserted that his campaign had already secured major athletic commitments contingent upon his electoral victory.

"We have signed two international stars," Riquelme boasted. "I have an agreement for two major stars to play for Real Madrid if I am president—stars who are essential for the sporting project in the short, medium and long term."

While declining to disclose the identities of the players in question, Riquelme delivered a severe assessment of the current executive administration, arguing that the club has compromised its foundational identity.

"As a Real Madrid fan, I have to say that this club currently lacks hierarchy, professionalism, values and a sense of what actually defines Real Madrid. All of that is somewhat missing," Riquelme asserted.

The challenger also advanced serious allegations concerning corporate restructuring plans attributed to the incumbent administration.

"They want to take the club away from the members," Riquelme claimed, referencing reports that Pérez intends to introduce external investors to the club—which is currently entirely owned by its club members (socios)—by selling a minor stake valued between 5% and 10%.

"These could be the last elections; that's what many at Real Madrid think! Because privatisation is coming," Riquelme warned.

Pérez forcefully rejected the privatisation narrative, defending his personal financial sacrifices on behalf of the institution.

"They're lying. Real Madrid will always belong to its members," Pérez insisted, adding that he had previously "risked his own fortune to save the club."

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Institutional Turbulence and Managerial Shifts

The contentious election cycle unfolded after a trophy-less campaign that left Pérez vulnerable to public criticism. A series of managerial changes exacerbated the club's internal instability, beginning with the dismissal of manager Xabi Alonso after just six months in office.

The subsequent appointment of Álvaro Arbeloa failed to stabilise the technical staff. Under Arbeloa’s stewardship, internal fractures became visible within the first-team roster—notably involving public friction between midfielders Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni—culminating in widespread organisational disarray by the conclusion of the competitive calendar.

Looking forward, Pérez emphasised that Arbeloa's eventual successor must possess a deep comprehension of the organisation's unique competitive environment. The incumbent president confirmed he has finalised an agreement with José Mourinho, who is prepared to return to the Spanish capital for a second managerial tenure should Pérez prevail in the upcoming June 7 election.

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Pérez also attributed the squad's physical decline and sporting difficulties to an overcrowded fixture list early in the season.

"The Club World Cup killed us. After three or four months, we had 28 injured first-team players," Pérez stated.