Key facts
- Florentino Perez won Real Madrid's presidential election, securing four more years in charge.
- Perez received 65% of the vote, while challenger Enrique Riquelme obtained 35%.
- This was the first genuine presidential contest for Real Madrid in two decades.
- Perez's campaign promised significant player signings and a club-record transfer fee.
- Riquelme opposed Perez's plan to allow outside investors a stake in the club.
Florentino Perez has secured another four-year term as president of Real Madrid, winning the club's first significant presidential election in two decades. Perez garnered 65% of the vote, defeating challenger Enrique Riquelme, who received 35%. The election took place on Sunday, with the results announced in the early hours of Monday.
Perez, a construction magnate, first became president in 2000 and had previously been re-elected unopposed since 2009. His decision to call an early election followed a second consecutive season without major silverware and Barcelona retaining their LaLiga title.
During his campaign, Perez promised to appoint Jose Mourinho as manager and make a club-record signing of 150 million euros for an unnamed player, also mentioning defenders Ibrahima Konate and Denzel Dumfries as potential acquisitions. Benfica confirmed interest in Mourinho would require a 15 million euro termination fee.
Riquelme's campaign focused on signing Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Rodri, and he criticized Perez's proposal to allow outside investors a 5% stake in the club, which he argued would lead to privatization. Riquelme also proposed developing the Valdebebas training ground into a social hub with amenities like a hotel and sports facilities.
Perez stated that Real Madrid's member-owned model would remain intact, with any statutory changes requiring approval from an extraordinary general meeting. The club reported 2024-25 revenue of 1.19 billion euros and is valued by Forbes at $6.75 billion.