‘Sexist, shocking, surreal’: Spanish media reacts to Real Madrid boss explosive press conference

Published connected 13/05/2026 - 14:23 GMT+2•Updated 14:23

A property league by Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, 1 of the astir almighty men successful Europe, has turned into a governmental enactment engulfing commentors, the media and progressive politicians accusing the shot main of sounding similar Donald Trump.

In a uncommon QA with the press, Pérez said helium would not measurement down aft a disastrous season, successful which Real Madrid failed to suffice for the Champions League last and mislaid La Liga rubric to Barcelona. "I americium atrocious to accidental that I americium not resigning,” helium said.

Pérez past announced past the nine would clasp elections and that helium would basal arsenic a campaigner erstwhile again. But it was what followed that drew the astir attention.

Visibly angry, the 79-year-old criticised caller media sum of interior tensions astatine the club, including reports of a dressing-room incidental involving players Aurélien Tchouaméni and Federico Valverde, who ended up successful hospital. Both were fined.

Pérez besides became progressive successful a verbal speech with writer David Sánchez de Castro of ABC implicit the newspaper’s sum of Real Madrid. He aboriginal announced helium would cancel his subscription to ABC, saying: “It was my begetter who subscribed me, and I americium cancelling it successful his honour.”

Sánchez de Castro was not the lone ABC writer mentioned. Referring to 2 caller articles published by the outlet astir the club, Pérez said: “One of them was written by a woman. I don’t cognize if she knows thing astir football.”

He aboriginal added, pointing to different journalist: “That miss there, inquire a question. The remainder of you are precise ugly.”

Spain’s astir listened-to vigor station, Cadena SER, criticised Pérez’s comments, saying they reflected “arrogance and sexism”.

ABC described them arsenic “outrageous attacks” intended to “cover up the club’s failures”. The writer targeted by Pérez, María José Fuenteálamo, said she “did not expect this” and added that she had lone written an sentiment column.

Calculated risk?

Some commentators successful Spain argued that Florentino Pérez mislaid his consciousness of proportionality during the property conference, with El Mundo comparing his quality to a “Trumpist exercise”. Others suggested it was a calculated effort to divert attraction from different trophyless play — the club’s 2nd successful a row.

That strategy whitethorn person backfired, arsenic Pérez’s comments regarding Barcelona and alleged corruption person prompted the Catalan nine to see imaginable ineligible action.

Pérez described Barcelona’s alleged corruption arsenic “the biggest ungraded successful shot history”, claiming that “seven league titles were stolen” from Real Madrid arsenic a result, and announced that a 500-page dossier would beryllium submitted to UEFA, European football’s governing body.

Spanish media and journalists person mostly focused connected his comments, but immoderate person besides highlighted what was not said. MARCA, traditionally Spain’s astir wide work sports outlet, noted that Pérez avoided addressing the club’s ain crisis.

In what it described arsenic a “confusing” and “chaotic” property conference, MARCA besides said that immoderate signifier of self-criticism was absent from his remarks.

Real Madrid is 1 of the astir palmy shot clubs successful modern football, having won much Champions League titles than immoderate different European club. It is wide recognised internationally arsenic a planetary shot brand. Pérez is the club’s longest-serving president.