Like every year, the president of Real Madrid reports to the approximately 100,000 members (all of the club’s owners) before an ordinary general meeting (to discuss the budget and current affairs) and extraordinary (this year, to prepare the 2025 elections).
This Sunday morning, Florentino Pérez held this assembly live from the Real Madrid training center. The opportunity for the leader to return to numerous themes, from the recruitment of Kylian Mbappé, to his Superleague ambitions or the controversy over the Ballon d’Or not awarded to Vinicius Junior.
Regarding the arrival of the French striker this summer, the Madrid president did not hide his enthusiasm. “It’s one of the greatest achievements in the history of Football,” said Florentino Pérez in front of the members, present or by video. He is a great reinforcement that many did not imagine and he has already helped us win the first title of the season by scoring a goal. » A reference to the European Super Cup won in August against Atalanta Bergamo (2-0). But the real message of the morning is for Vinicius Junior: “For us and for fans of this sport, you are the best player in the world. »
“Without the votes of Namibia, Uganda, Albania or Finland…”
What then to mention the 2024 Golden Ball, awarded to Rodri, player of Manchester City and the Spanish selection. “Rodri is a very great player,” says Florentino Pérez. But I’ll tell you something. Tuttosport (italian journal) said: the Golden Ball should have gone to a Real Madrid player. This year they rewarded Rodri for his performance from the previous season. He deserves a Ballon d’Or but not this year. He would have deserved it last year when Manchester City achieved the treble (championship, cup, Champions League). »
Then, he directs his criticism towards UEFA, a new entrant since 2023 in the organization of the France Football Ballon d’or, and the voting system. “They changed the system,” recalls Pérez. It is surprising that journalists from countries with less than a million inhabitants vote. Some journalists, no one knows them and they have been voting since this year. Without the votes of countries like Namibia, Uganda, Albania or Finland, Vinicius would have won the Golden Ball. The system must change (…) This is why we did not come to the ceremony. »
“The new format of the Champions League is unfair”
Speaking of the system, Florentino Pérez also talks about La Liga, about UEFA and its new Champions League, recalling his Superleague ambitions. “I have been saying for several years that football is hurt,” he explains. He has never been in such a delicate situation. The absolute disaster comes from France: Ligue 1 went from 1 billion to not even 500 million euros (€726 million per season between 2016 and 2020 to €500 million today to be exact). In La Liga too, things are not going well. Real Madrid earned as many TV rights last year as they did ten years ago. »
“The new format of the Champions League is unfair and no one understands it,” continues Florentino Pérez. There are more matches but the value of each match has dropped by 30% (in TV rights). (…) The format is detrimental for the players, increases injuries. We will be able to play up to 82 matches this season! (…) Fifa has increased the number of international breaks and UEFA its number of matches. And on top of that, there is the Club World Cup. Ten years ago, Fifa and UEFA organized 488 matches per year, today 760. All this to win more. (…) This system no longer works. It has to be changed. »
