Perez Attacks Riquelme and La Liga Association, Talks About Negreira Case

Florentino Perez spoke during his campaign for the presidency of Real Madrid, in an evening that witnessed a large public attendance at the Melia Castilla Hotel, with support from several club legends and prominent figures, most notably Ronaldo Nazario and Roberto Carlos.

Perez began his speech by launching a direct attack on his rival, Enrique Riquelme, saying: "For several months, I have noticed a covert campaign against Real Madrid. It is not true that I am preventing elections. The real owners of the club are the members, and now that a candidate has emerged, we know well who is behind him."

He added: "They are the same people who were part of an association we all wish to erase from our memory, who stripped the club members of their sovereignty, and everyone knows how Ramón Calderón's term ended, after the biggest scandal in Real Madrid's history."

Perez also criticized his rival's financial situation, citing a report published by Bloomberg, where he said: "Is it conceivable that someone who requests a loan for his companies with an interest rate of up to 54% annually, while hiding it from the financial market authority, has the capability to preside over Real Madrid? Now we understand why no Spanish bank granted him the required financial guarantee."

The president of Real Madrid emphasized that the club members will remain the true decision-makers, saying: "The members are and will remain the owners of this club no matter how some try to spread lies. We are the ones who have built this legacy emotionally, economically, and legally."

He also addressed the issue of the black market for tickets, stating: "We are working with the police to combat the illegal resale of tickets, because protecting tickets means protecting the rights of the members, and as long as I am the club president, I will not allow it."

Regarding the future of the Bernabéu and its new technological project in collaboration with Apple: "Transforming the stadium proves that we are capable of achieving the impossible. The Bernabéu possesses the technology of the future, and with Apple, we are working to provide an unprecedented virtual experience that allows fans to experience the atmosphere of matches from their homes. It is a technological utopia that will become a reality."

Regarding the famous Negreira case: "The whole world does not understand how a club (Barcelona) paid money to the vice president of the referees' committee for 20 years. We are the only club that has officially taken action in this case, and Real Madrid members know that I will not stop until full responsibilities are determined. We will provide all the information we have gathered to UEFA."

He continued in his talk about La Liga: "I will not back down in the face of wasting league funds and the continuous attacks against Real Madrid. My sole mission is to defend this club."

He concluded: "My father taught me what it means to be a Real Madrid fan since I was four years old. Real Madrid is not just a club but a way of understanding life. Thank you for your love and support, and we still have a lot of history to write."