Riquelme campaign accuses Pérez of spreading false information

Enrique Riquelme's bid for the Real Madrid presidency has erupted into a public spat, with his campaign accusing incumbent Florentino Pérez of disseminating "information that is totally and unequivocally false" regarding their project and legitimacy.

Riquelme's team issued a statement denouncing Pérez's "unacceptable attitude and methods" for questioning their candidacy's validity, despite it being approved by the Electoral Board. They specifically refuted claims about their financing, stating a $2 billion corporate bond issuance in the U.S. market, which attracted $8 billion in demand, was the source of funds. The campaign highlighted this as a milestone for Latin American emissions.

Furthermore, Riquelme's campaign challenged Pérez to explain the involvement of his own family and friends in the club's management and intermediary roles over his 20-year tenure. They also dismissed Pérez's assertion that Riquelme's campaign was orchestrated by figures from the Ramón Calderón era, noting Riquelme was only 15 at the time. While acknowledging one team member's past association with that period, they pointed out he also served under Pérez until recently. Another team member's father was president during Calderón's term, but the son resigned due to disagreements.

Riquelme's campaign asserted that questioning Pérez's decisions is a democratic exercise that strengthens Real Madrid, rather than an attack on the club. They criticized the "silencing or ridicule" of members' doubts about club business and the influence of individuals like Anas Laghari, whose involvement in strategic operations with "dubious economic intermediations" linked to Real Madrid and Barcelona F.C. demands transparency. Riquelme called for a public debate.