Florentino Pérez's descent into hell

BarcelonaShortly after lunchtime, many journalists in Madrid received news of an impromptu press conference by Florentino Pérez. More than one thought it would be to dismiss Álvaro Arbeloa, and others thought he might be considering leaving his post, as he had done the first time he had strung together two seasons without titles, in 2006. But within minutes, club sources were already informing them that they were very mistaken. Quite the opposite: Pérez would go on the offensive, and many of those journalists would be publicly attacked.

Florentino's farcical press conference was the final act of the great tragicomedy that Real Madrid has become. The builder called for elections but made clear his decision to continue leading a club he has turned into a kind of Alamo. Surrounded by enemies. Many real and others imaginary. A man always attentive to press reports, this year he has seen how media outlets normally aligned with his discourse have ended up criticizing him. Normally well-documented news about a club where everything goes through his offices, where the directors don't count for much, and where he himself handles the sporting planning.

Now we will have to see if anyone tries to challenge him in the elections, as the young businessman Enrique Riquelme, one of those indirectly targeted in Pérez's press conference, might do. To become president, the winning candidate must guarantee more than 180 million in personal assets, 15% of Madrid's budget. This requirement narrows the field and helps explain why Florentino hasn't needed to put ballot boxes out to continue leading for over 20 years. From 2009 to 2025, he has been renewing his presidency due to a lack of opponents.

Mbappé, a signing with no results

deck that ended with the Uruguayan in the hospital, Mbappé left Valdebebas laughing. He didn't seem very worried.

when Valverde and Tchouaméni fought, a fight that ended with the Uruguayan in the hospital, Mbappé left Valdebebas laughing. He didn't seem very worried.

Florentino is indeed worried, as was evident from his tense press conference. Only once had he strung together two blank years. Now it has happened to him for the second time. For years, signing Mbappé became his obsession, convinced that if he brought in the best players, the coach wouldn't matter. If the first term was that of the Zidanes and the Pavones, where home-grown talent was mixed with big media names, the constructor's second term has been that of the Ronaldos and Mbappés. A Madrid with few home-grown players, spending money on big stars and without sporting direction. Everything has been done as Florentino wanted. For a few years it worked for him; now it doesn't.

they have stopped him with the parking lot works, with the concerts, and with the renovations.Madrid can also not be calm when talking about money. And not even at home have they looked after him: his decision to turn the old Santiago Bernabéu into a great money-making machine where football matches are no longer the only activity has put him at odds with politicians and with residents of the neighborhoods where until now everyone praised him. In Chamartín and in other neighborhoods close to the stadium, conservative strongholds, they have stopped him with the parking lot works, with the concerts, and with the renovations.

to bring back a José Mourinho who hasn't won titles in years.Arbeloa already suspects he won't continue, after these months. He tried to gain the dressing room's confidence with public gestures, like when he asked the fans not to chant his name and to limit themselves to applauding the players. But instead of getting along with them, he has ended up clashing with many of his former teammates. Some even laugh at him. Arbeloa's relationship with Florentino has always been good and, in fact, the coach belongs to the agency of representatives of Óscar Ribot, former press chief of the club. But without titles, the president will sacrifice him. Florentino has already started to leak to the press that he is thinking about a new coach and, in fact, he is thinking about Some laugh at him, in fact. Arbeloa's relationship with Florentino has always been good and, in fact, the coach belongs to the agency of representatives of Óscar Ribot, former press chief of the club. But without titles, the president will sacrifice him. Florentino has already started to leak to the press that he is thinking about a new coach and, in fact, he is thinking about bringing back a José Mourinho who hasn't won titles in years. He is now at Benfica, where after seeing that Porto won the league, the club offered the mvp award of the match to the referee, implying that he had punished them. Mourinho in his purest form.

Mourinho, soaring over the Bernabéu

The first time Pérez signed the Portuguese player, he also did so because he needed to change course in years of blaugrana dominance. But he was a young, fashionable, winning Mourinho, not like now. The Setúbal coach has a contract until 2027, but if he pays three million, the white club could sign him. In Florentino's circle, not everyone believes he is the winning bet. But as always, it will all depend on the builder.

The white president needs a coup to win the elections he has called and silence the critics. And he is preparing a transfer market with many incomings and outgoings, after seeing that last year's signings, such as Huijsen or Carreras, have not impressed. The key will be to see which coach arrives and what power he has to influence the market. For now, patience is running out with Vinícius, whose performance has dropped after coming close to winning the Ballon d'Or. And patience is running out with Mbappé, who seems to have other priorities in life. The fans have already booed him. Florentino, for now, protects him, although thousands of fans have collected signatures asking him to leave.

Madrid, which has become a hornet's nest, does not even seem capable of giving a good send-off to Dani Carvajal, a captain who has won everything and who has experienced animosity with Arbeloa, who also doesn't speak with Dani Ceballos and other players. The fight between Valverde and Tchouaméni, added to other incidents between Rüdiger and Carreras, have ended up tarnishing the club's image. The crisis has erupted after two summers in which Florentino, convinced that he is always right, has not guaranteed balance to a squad punished by the absences of Kroos and Modric. And not even the young players who have debuted from the reserve team have received support. The Gonzalos or the Pitarchs do not sell shirts.

At 79 years old, the manager seems determined to move forward. For now, he does not seem to be blessing anyone to replace him as president and, in fact, this year he has already opened the door to a revolution in the ownership model, allowing private companies to become owners of a part of Madrid, which until now has always been in the hands of the members. One of the effect shifts from a Florentino who continues to be obsessed with fighting. Meanwhile, however, Madrid continues to lose battles on and off the field. The "superior being",, clearly, has proven to be mortal.