AGM at Real Madrid: A rare appearance by Pérez
MADRID. He almost stopped giving interviews for quite some time. This makes it more interesting if… Florentino Perez then the floor rises again. The president of Real Madrid does this after title achievements - and at the annual general meeting.
The meeting with the representative members of the Royals took place on Sunday in the basketball hall on the club’s training ground. Among other things, Pérez spoke about the uproar surrounding the Ballon d’Or 2024, which Real won at the end of October and which Vinícius Júnior did not win in the end. The Real boss also said the Super League is still not realistic and explained the club’s attitude towards FIFA and UEFA.
FULL REAL provides the most important statements from Pérez.
“Rodri deserves the Ballon d’Or – but not this year”
FLORENTINO PÉREZ about…
…the Ballon d’Or 2024, won by Rodri: “For the first time ever, UEFA organized this event – with the French media companies FRANCE FOOTBALL and L’ÉQUIPE. First of all, I want to make it abundantly clear that Rodri is a great footballer. He has all our affection, no doubt about it, he has nothing to do with that. I quote TUTTOSPORT, a leading media: ‘The Ballon d’Or is not a scandal for Rodri, but it is unfair. Rodri is a phenomenon and deserves a Ballon d’Or – but not this Ballon d’Or! A Real Madrid player should have got it in 2024. Why give it to Rodri this year? Last year City won the treble and Rodri scored the winning goal in the Champions League final. And then he didn’t even finish up on the podium. You can’t give a price like that in return, it’s unfair.’ These are the words of TUTTOSPORT, which reflect the opinions of many. Rodri has the recognition of Real Madrid because there is no doubt that he deserved the Ballon d’Or. But not this year. He had the Ballon d’Or last year.”
…the many injuries at Real: “In the last three months alone we have had 14 players injured. There are nine cruciate ligament tears in LaLiga, two of them at Real Madrid. Experts identify fatigue as the cause. In addition, games are running later and later, making it difficult for players to recover. Bellingham, for example, is 21 years old and has played 251 games. Beckham only played 54 games in his age. The physical and mental pressure is disproportionately high. There is no time to rest. And so the risk of injury increases.”
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…the Super League, which is still pending: “We proposed this series and its free broadcast to change the history of football – for the good of the sport. Today I am more optimistic than ever. The ruling of the European Court of Justice, which is historic and will be studied in universities, ended UEFA’s monopoly. We never said it would be easy. It was a huge fight, with pressure and threats. There is a chance to revive football. UEFA is angry with some clubs. The invention of the Super League is about creating a balance that all parties can be happy with. Just as the Bernabéu pushed to create the European Cup and beat the opponent. Today we are proud of this fight for the Super Series. But he can not only celebrate the result. It’s a unique, real opportunity. We want to bring its excellence back to football. A22, the Super League company, is still talking to the clubs and continues to work. The format will be 100 percent performance oriented. Ruling Super League has given us back our freedom.”
…the events of Toni Kroos, Nacho Fernández and Joselu: “Nacho is one of our best youth players, having joined Real Madrid at just ten years old. He finished his time at Real Madrid as part of the select group with six European Cups. It will be very difficult to see a player like Toni Kroos again. One of the best players in our history and one of the biggest legends of world football. He leaves us with 23 titles at Real Madrid. By winning the last Champions League, Kroos left Gento with six European Cups in Real Madrid’s history. And thanks also to Joselu. He is a Madridista at heart and a Real Madrid native who will always be proud to be the protagonist of one of those magical nights at the Bernabeu against Bayern Munich.”
…the training in Real Youth: “The youth academy is an essential part of understanding the history and identity of this club, as this is where our young people are educated and grow up with the values of Real Madrid. And the numbers clearly show that this is the best youth academy in the world. Currently, 191 footballers trained in Ciudad Real Madrid play in the professional leagues. 51 play in the first Spanish division, 84 in the international league and 56 in the second division.”
…the broken billion euro revenue mark: “This year we have reached an unprecedented milestone. Real Madrid is the first football club to surpass the one billion euro sales mark. We achieved exactly 1,073 million euros in revenue, which means a significant increase of 27 percent compared to the previous year. The financial results for the 2023/24 season confirm our position as one of the strongest and most successful clubs in the world of sport.”
marca.com and realmadrid.com
What challenges does Real Madrid face in maintaining its elite status in European football?
Ish division, and 25 are in the Real Madrid first team. This alone shows the tremendous potential we have in our youth system. It’s an ongoing commitment to develop young talent, which has always been a cornerstone of our club’s philosophy.”
…the future of Real Madrid: “Our goal remains to continue competing at the highest level and to add more trophies to our illustrious history. We have solid foundations in place, and with the right investments and strategy, I am confident that Real Madrid will maintain its status among the elite clubs in Europe. The coming years are crucial, and we will not shy away from making tough decisions if necessary to ensure the club’s success.”
Florentino Pérez’s statements reflect a blend of pride in Real Madrid’s legacy and a realistic assessment of the challenges ahead. With a focus on youth development, injury management, and the pursuit of new opportunities like the Super League, Pérez is steering the club through a transformative period in football. His insights from the AGM provide a glimpse into a leader determined to uphold the club’s prestigious identity while navigating the shifting landscape of modern football.