Florentino Perez calls for Real Madrid elections

On May 12, 2026, Real Madrid President Florentino Perez held an emergency press conference to address internal instability and poor team performance. Perez formally denied rumors of his resignation and stated that he would not step down from his position. Instead, he announced the scheduling of new presidential elections, where the current Board of Directors intends to seek a vote of confidence. Perez attributed the current crisis to orchestrated media campaigns aimed at damaging the club's reputation. The club’s statutes require candidates for the presidency to provide a bank guarantee amounting to at least 15% of the annual operating budget, sourced from their personal assets. The board currently consists of 19 members, including long-standing executives Jose Angel Sanchez and Manuel Redondo. This decision follows weeks of reports regarding locker room tensions, specifically involving players Tchouameni and Valverde, and speculation regarding coaching changes.