Florentino Perez announces Real Madrid elections and fires back at critics: “I am not leaving”

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has unexpectedly announced the launch of a new electoral process at the club. After a meeting of the Board of Directors, he addressed the media in Valdebebas and stated that he has no intention of resigning. On the contrary, Perez will run again together with the club’s current leadership. Real Madrid published the official statement on May 12, 2026.

According to Perez, the decision is not linked to a desire to leave his post, but to the need to respond to a campaign which, in his view, is being conducted against him and the club. He stressed that Real Madrid does not belong to a single owner, but to its socios — around 100,000 club members.

“I am not going to resign. I have asked the Board of Directors to begin the electoral process. We will take part in these elections to defend the interests of the club’s members,” Perez said.

Perez responds to rumours about his health and fatigue

One of the most emotional parts of the speech was Perez’s response to reports and rumours about his health. The Real Madrid president firmly rejected claims that he is supposedly tired, ill, or no longer capable of running the club.

Perez noted that he continues to manage not only the Madrid club on a daily basis, but also a major infrastructure company. According to him, such rumours have been created artificially and are being used to put pressure on him at a time when the team is going through a difficult season.

The president admitted that the current year has been unsuccessful in terms of results, but reminded everyone that defeats are part of sport. At the same time, he stressed that during his time in charge, Real Madrid’s football and basketball teams have won 66 trophies, including seven European Cups/Champions League titles in football.

Real Madrid heads to elections again

Perez has effectively challenged his opponents. He said that anyone who wants to change the club’s direction now has the chance to do so openly — through elections, rather than through media publications and behind-the-scenes conversations.

The Real Madrid president sharply criticised part of the Spanish media, accusing them of trying to create a sense of crisis around the club. He particularly pointed to reports claiming that he was tired and could step down from his position.

In Perez’s opinion, such campaigns have intensified against the backdrop of a season without major trophies. However, he insists that Real Madrid remains the most prestigious club in the world, and that temporary sporting setbacks should not become a reason to destabilise the entire structure.

Perez also addresses the Negreira case

Perez also spoke separately about the Negreira case, which is linked to payments made by Barcelona to the former vice-president of Spain’s Technical Committee of Referees. The Real Madrid president described the scandal as unprecedented in world football and said the club is preparing a serious dossier to submit to UEFA.

According to Perez, the Madrid club considers it unacceptable that referees who worked during that period continue to officiate La Liga matches. He stressed that Real Madrid intends to push for a full investigation at international level.

The power struggle at Real Madrid begins again

Perez’s speech became one of his toughest in recent years. Instead of stepping aside, he chose a demonstrative response to his critics: the president is opening the electoral process and will run again himself.

The main question now is whether he will face a real opponent. In recent years, Perez has generally remained without serious competition, but the new wave of criticism could push his opponents to attempt an open challenge.

One thing is already clear: Florentino Perez has no intention of giving up Real Madrid without a fight. Moreover, he is using the elections as a way to show that the final word at the club belongs not to journalists and rumours, but to the members of Real Madrid.