Pérez: Riquelme's candidacy is backed by Real Madrid's enemies; club control remains with socios

Florentino Pérez, a candidate for the Real Madrid presidency, has launched a strong attack against his competitor Enrique Riquelme, asserting that Riquelme's candidacy is not "truly independent" and is supported by "all the enemies" of the club. Pérez made these remarks in a series of videos released by his campaign, aimed at countering what he termed "lies."

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This candidacy are the same people from that assembly of shame that motivated elections in which I was elected president and they are supported, moreover, by all the enemies of Real Madrid.

Pérez also tackled the sensitive issue of potentially selling a stake in the club. He explained that while the club might create a separate entity for its football and basketball activities, any external investor would hold a purely symbolic share, valued at a maximum of 5%. This investor would not have any decision-making power or voting rights, as control would remain entirely with the club's members (socios). He reiterated that any significant changes regarding ownership would require a referendum of all socios.

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The club can create a society that is 100% of the club where we carry out football and basketball activities with the sole purpose that if we want to value what the club is worth, it can give entry, something symbolic, to someone who values it for us.

Addressing concerns about the club's financial health, Pérez firmly rejected any suggestion that selling a stake was driven by a need for funds. He pointed to Forbes' recent valuation of Real Madrid as the most valuable and richest club globally, implying that financial necessity is not a motivating factor for such proposals. Furthermore, Pérez debunked rumors about candidates having access to the electoral registry, stating that the Electoral Board has always maintained control of this information and distributes it to candidates upon request for communication with socios.

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If at the moment the socios decide to bring in an investor with a maximum of 5% to value the club for us, that brand will not manage the club nor will it participate in any of its decisions. The buyer gets the satisfaction, the honor, of associating their brand with that of Real Madrid. But neither decides, nor votes, nor anything; that is reserved 100% for the socios.