Florentino Pérez remains at the helm of Real Madrid after presidential elections

(Patria) - Florentino Pérez defeated Enrique Riquelme in the elections for the presidency of Real Madrid.

The victory of the Madrid businessman was confirmed early this morning after 00:30, Spanish Marca reported.

Pérez's new term expires in 2030. Various media predicted this victory during the week, including exit polls at the Valdebebas training centre where voting took place, with about two-thirds of the votes in favour of the president of Real Madrid since 2000, except for the period between 2006 and 2009.

This is his third election victory. He lost his first bid for the presidency in 1995 to Ramón Mendoza, but then in 2000 he defeated Lorenzo Sanz with 55% of the vote, with postal voting proving decisive in that election. Then in 2004 he won the election again, this time convincingly with over 90% of the vote.

Since returning to the club in 2009, after the turbulent departure of Ramón Calderón, who was linked to Riquelme's candidacy, this year's elections are the first in which Pérez had a rival. On that return he was unopposed, and then also in the open electoral processes of 2013, 2017, 2021 and 2025, in which there was no alternative to the president and, therefore, no need to go to the polls.

His term was due to expire in 2029, but the seventy-nine-year-old president decided to call elections a month ago, after a very negative season on the pitch, in which the club's reputation was also damaged. He announced his intention to call elections at an explosive press conference on 12 May, shortly after MARCA revealed a fight in the dressing room between players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni.

At the same press conference, Pérez alluded to the candidacy of Enrique Riquelme, who eventually confirmed his participation in the election after forming his candidacy in record time.

The election campaign, which began with mutual respect between the two candidates, became fiercer in the final days, with accusations exchanged between them, in addition to the usual struggle over potential reinforcements.

Pérez won the battle with names like José Mourinho, Ibrahima Konaté and Denzel Dumfries, all of whom were confirmed during the campaign. However, the arrival of a superstar is also awaited, which should be announced on Tuesday, with an offer of 150 million euros. It is believed that it could be Michael Olise.