Real Madrid presidential hopeful Enrique Riquelme has issued a strongly worded statement criticizing club president Florentino Pérez over remarks made during a recent public appearance, accusing him of spreading “completely and utterly false” information about his candidacy.
Riquelme said Real Madrid “deserve much more than noise, lies, self-serving hoaxes, and smear campaigns among Madridistas,” insisting that democratic debate within the club should not be treated as an attack on the institution.
The businessman accused Pérez and members of his inner circle of choosing “personal attacks and tension” instead of encouraging a respectful and transparent electoral process worthy of “the world’s greatest sports institution.”
Responding to allegations raised against his campaign, Riquelme clarified that a referenced financial operation was backed by a $2 billion corporate bond issuance in the United States market at a 7.25 percent rate, adding that the process attracted demand worth $8 billion and marked a milestone for Latin American issuances.
Riquelme also claimed that, for the third time in public appearances, Pérez had questioned the integrity and legitimacy of his candidacy despite it being officially validated by the club’s Electoral Board.
He further challenged the long-serving Real Madrid president to explain “the involvement of family members and friends in the club’s management and intermediation network” after more than 20 years in charge of the Spanish giants.
“It is false that questioning the current president’s decisions amounts to attacking Real Madrid,” Riquelme stated, describing criticism and debate as a democratic exercise that strengthens the club and gives a voice to its members.
The presidential contender concluded by pledging to continue a “clean and calm campaign” focused on ideas for the future while respecting the legacy of the club since its foundation in 1902.
