Florentino Pérez to call new Real Madrid presidential elections amid club crisis

Real Madrid’s latest crisis is not just about losing matches. It’s about who gets to define what a bad season means at a club that expects trophies every year. On Tuesday, Florentino Pérez tried to seize that argument back. He said he will call new presidential elections and stand again, even though he was only re-elected last year through 2029. ### Why did Pérez do this now? The immediate backdrop was ugly. Madrid lost 2-0 at Barcelona, and that defeat confirmed Barça as Spanish champions for a second straight season. It also left Madrid heading toward a second consecutive season without a major trophy, which is the kind of failure that turns background grumbling into open revolt. (realmadrid.com) ### What exactly did he announce? Pérez told reporters he had asked the board to start the electoral process and said the current board would run again. He framed it less as a normal election cycle and more as a challenge to people he says have been trying to push him out from the shadows. Basically — if there are rivals, he wants them to show themselves. (wtop.com) ### But wasn’t he already in office? Yes. That is what makes this strange. Pérez was confirmed as president in 2025 until 2029 after running unopposed, so this is not a routine end-of-term vote. He is choosing to reopen the question of leadership early, which looks like an attempt to turn criticism into a loyalty test. (realmadrid.com) ### What was he so angry about? A lot of the press conference was Pérez attacking what he called an organized campaign against him and against Real Madrid. He said critics were exploiting poor results to target him personally. He also denied rumors that he was ill, saying claims that he had terminal cancer were invented and that his health is “perfect.” (football-espana.net) ### Did he talk about the team? Only a little. He admitted the frustration of a season without silverware, but he did not really use the appearance to explain the football side. He avoided going deep on results and brushed off questions about the future on the bench, including talk around José Mourinho. That tells you something — this was more about control than tactics. (realmadrid.com) ### Why are challengers such a big deal at Madrid? Because running against Pérez is hard in practical terms, not just politically. Real Madrid’s rules require presidential candidates to have been club members for 20 years and to provide a financial guarantee worth 15% of the club budget. That creates a huge barrier to entry, which is one reason Pérez has often faced no serious opposition. (wtop.com) ### What case is Pérez making for himself? He is leaning on history and scale. He reminded reporters that Madrid have won 66 titles across football and basketball during his presidency — 37 in football and 29 in basketball. The argument is simple: one bad cycle should not outweigh two decades of expansion, trophies, and institutional power. ### So what happens next? (football-espana.net) The election now becomes a referendum on whether Madrid’s problems are temporary sporting failure or a deeper crisis around Pérez’s grip on the club. If nobody credible runs, he probably comes out stronger. If a real challenger emerges, this turns into the most serious internal fight Madrid have had in years. ### Bottom line (realmadrid.com) Pérez is not retreating. He is forcing the club’s anger into an election he thinks he can still win — and betting that Madridistas will blame the season before they blame him.