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Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez convened an emergency press conference on Tuesday afternoon to address the media directly amid the club's ongoing crisis.
Los Blancos' troubled 2025–26 campaign descended into a nightmare over the past month. The side suffered repeated failures on the field, most notably their Champions League exit and a humiliating Clásico loss that gifted Barcelona the La Liga crown.
The turmoil spilled into the dressing room and training facilities, where a series of incidents unfolded in quick succession. Kylian Mbappé reportedly clashed aggressively with a member of the coaching staff at Valdebebas, Antonio Rüdiger struck Álvaro Carreras, and Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni came to blows in a fight that left the Uruguayan hospitalized.
A trophy-less season, a squad in open conflict and the search for a new manager were all subjects the public anticipated Pérez would address. Instead, he kept the spotlight almost entirely on himself throughout the press conference in what can only be described as a bewildering outburst.
Pérez Announces New Wave of Elections
The moment Pérez took to the podium, he declared that new elections for Real Madrid's Board of Directors would be held — three years ahead of schedule. The Spaniard, who repeatedly stressed he has no intention of stepping down, was re-elected as president in 2025 for a four-year term.
Rather than waiting until 2029, Pérez is calling for early elections as a direct challenge to those who have publicly questioned his leadership. The 79-year-old previously ran unopposed in 2013, 2017, 2021 and 2025.
"I'm sorry to tell you that I'm not going to resign," Pérez said before announcing the forthcoming elections, welcoming challengers this time. "Those who want to come out and stand against me, they can. I am also going to stand to defend the rights of our members.
"If somebody does want to stand, let them stand. But don't move in the shadows. I have asked the electoral board to begin the process of calling elections, in which the current board will stand again."
Pérez also repeatedly insisted he is in "perfect health," dismissing rumors that he is battling cancer and emphasizing that no medical condition is preventing him from leading Real Madrid.
Pérez Furthers Crusade Against La Liga, Journalists
Following his election announcement, Pérez devoted much of the press conference to attacking journalists and La Liga, alleging that both are working against Los Blancos and stoking the negative narratives surrounding the club.
The president singled out journalists and outlets by name, citing specific articles he claimed "create trouble for Real Madrid," and directly addressed members of the press in attendance on Tuesday, whom Pérez "supposes are Atlético Madrid fans."
He then directed his fury at La Liga, stoking the ever-present rivalry while also raising the Negreira case, in which Barcelona stand accused of paying a total of €8.4 million (£7.3 million, $9.7 million) between 2001 and 2018 to a company owned by former vice president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) refereeing committee José María Enríquez Negreira in exchange for favorable refereeing decisions.
"Of course, there's also our perennial enemy, La Liga," Pérez said. "We're going to fight. I'm fighting against everyone. The systemic corruption of the Negreira case … How can we just forget it? We're preparing a 500-page dossier that I'll send to UEFA when the competition is over. I've already spoken with them. There's no precedent for this in the history of world football. It's the biggest corruption case ever."
Pérez Addresses Mourinho Links
After his lengthy monologue, Pérez opened the floor to questions, yet he declined to engage with anything of real interest to the journalists present or fans watching at home. He refused to address what went wrong on the pitch this season, brushing aside questions about the team's poor performances.
Instead, he dwelled on past glories, reminding everyone that Real Madrid is "the club with the most titles in the history of the world. The most valuable club according to Forbes. The most valuable brand." He also referenced Los Blancos' Champions League and La Liga successes just two seasons ago.
Pérez maintained the same evasive approach when questioned about José Mourinho, who has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Álvaro Arbeloa as manager this summer.
"Mourinho? We're not talking about that right now," he said before launching into yet another tirade about the "absurd campaign" against Real Madrid, where he claims to have been "elected the best president in the history of the club."
Pérez Downplays Fight Between Valverde, Tchouaméni
Pérez offered little detail regarding the altercation between Valverde and Tchouaméni, though he did suggest the incident was far more routine than the media had portrayed it.
"It's not the first time two players have fought; they fight every season because they're competitive," he said. "The difference here is that someone has spoken about it for the first time, and we know who it was."
Pérez was alluding to the dressing room leak, appearing far more concerned with whoever passed the information to the press than with the incident itself.
"I think it's terrible, and I think it's even worse that they've made it public. I've been here for 26 years, and there hasn't been a single year without two players … or four of them … fighting.
"For me, the leak is worse, because it implies that there's more to it than just the fight; the next day they're friends and go for coffee. I think it's the first time I've seen that in my 26-year history, and that worries me too."
It is clear that Pérez has far greater concerns to address than a dressing room leak, yet the president's attention remains firmly fixed on neutralizing his critics and safeguarding his own image rather than taking the necessary steps to restore Real Madrid's standing.