Incumbent and construction magnate, Fiorentino Perez will face a heated election against Enrique Riquelme, a Renewable Energy entrepreneur on June 7, 2026.
This will be the 79yo's Perez's first contested election since the assumption of his second spell on June 1 2009. He was Club President in 2000 bringing in the Galacticos: Luis Figo from arch-rivals Barcelona, Zinedine Zidane from Juventus, Ronaldo de Lima, Michael Owen, David Beckham and Robinho. He resigned in August 2006 following heavy criticisms for prioritising marketing over performance on the pitch. His second spell has seen him churn in the likes of Kaka Rodriguez, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Toni Kroos, Karim Benzema, Luka Modric amongst others.
However, despite signing Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr a few seasons ago, the club has retired the 25/26 season with no trophy. And for the first time ever, no Spanish player from Real Madrid will be joining La Roja to the summer World Cup in USA/Mexico/Canada '26. Pressure is mounting on Perez and for the second time will he call it quits?
Enrique Riquelme (born January 1989) on the other hand, is pledging reforms with an aim to overhaul the Real Madrid side, put a plug on the financial waste, offer a pro-Spanish team with club legends like Raul Gonzalez, Iker Casillas and Fernando Hierro holding sensitive positions in the club. Enrique stunned journalists when he produced a notarised document/guarantee, to sign Rodri and Erling Haaland if elected, pledging to reimburse season ticket holders 100% if he doesn't fulfill his promise. He claimed he has been speaking to the Haaland side and have reached an agreement (He even posed on TV with a Haaland-signed Real Madrid shirt).
Whilst Rodri has remained coy choosing instead to focus on the World Cup, the Haaland-side vehemently rejected any prior agreement with Riquelme, City is also weighing a legal option for tapping their star player. Riquelme has remained silent on who he hopes to hire as Madrid Coach but has rebuffed Jose Mourinho as the man to be at the dugout stressing that his dream coach is one all Madridista will love. The biggest superstar manager anyone can think of.
A de JA vu perhaps, when a then 53yo Perez in 2000 contesting against the very popular incumbent Lorenzo Sanz, stunned the football world by pledging to sign Figo from Barcelona or return monies for season ticket holders. Despite Figo's denial (even with a reported prior agreement with Perez) at the Euros 2000, it was a move fulfilled and kick-started the Galactico era.
Perez in an interview la Horizonte yesterday: has again promised!
If elected, he will be ready to break the record sign-on fee with an asking €150m on Tuesday, June 9. When asked about the player, Perez quipped;
It's not Haaland, it's not Michael Olise, not Jeremy Doku, they are great players but it's not them. It's not Harry Kane, it's not even for a Premier League player but I signed Figo, Zidane and Cristiano, he is on that level, a born-Galactico. Madrid can even be willing to pay more. He is from a Champions League club, not a defender, but a midfielder or forward. He also promised other signings.
Perez also confirmed the signing of Denzel Dumfries from Internazionale and Ibrahima Konate from Liverpool. On the coaching aspect; he confirmed Jose will be at the dugout. "if elected, we will sign the man who laid the foundation for us to win 6 Champions League titles after he left; Jose Mourinho, he is a very competitive individual. Only the best comes to Real Madrid.'
Over 98000 registered Real Madrid supporters are expected to vote in-person or by mail-in on Sunday.
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