Special Florentino Program | Denís Iglesias reports from inside the storm.
Denís Iglesias
Madrid
A sudden press conference called by Florentino Pérez with just two hours’ notice proved to be a moment of brutal honesty, the consequences of which only time will reveal. The press room at Valdebebas was crowded, though no more than before a major match. It was a meeting for the frontline journalists – those who work morning in Valdebebas and night at the Bernabéu. No executives, no bosses. Just the ones who are always there.
A futile attempt to manage the event. Some might accuse this sector of being overly corporatist, but they are in no way responsible for the situation at Real Madrid, which showcased the most extreme presidentialism. The appearance was as lengthy as it was tense, with uncomfortable glances even among club employees under Florentino’s leadership. He proclaimed the club as belonging to its “members,” leaving the fans outside the equation.
The division of good and bad had a Trumpian undertone.
Florentino quickly brought up the ‘Negreira Case’: he will present a 500-page dossier to UEFA.
But the reality mirrored shareholders’ meetings, where there is no room for honest answers to uncomfortable questions – such as those regarding the renaming of the Santiago Bernabéu. For Florentino, there is no opposition, neither in the media, nor in the club, nor anywhere else.
That’s why he allowed himself the luxury of directing the appearance himself, bypassing all protocol. Despite his communication team’s useless efforts to inject some common sense, the event reflected the decline of an empire.
Although for Florentino, communication and the media are nothing but an “anti-Madrid” nuisance, the club’s brand reputation has been damaged after recent events.
The tensest moment came during a direct confrontation with Rubén Cañizares, a journalist from ABC, who defended his media outlet, the profession, and a segment of Madrid fans who feel unrepresented by this situation. Both he and other communicators called out by Florentino received sincere support from colleagues, who at times threatened to leave the room.
Like in the leaked audios. But in such a histrionic and historic appearance, every word of an intervention that will be remembered for years had to be scrutinized. For its tone and style, though unfortunately for Madrid fans, not for its substance – beyond a call for elections without a rival. Florentino claimed he would do it again, feeling comfortable imposing a script that received no challenge. Because some of those targeted, like Relaño, Segurola, or José María García, couldn’t even reply.
Florentino Pérez explains his reasons for calling elections and responds to health rumors.
/ Real Madrid TV
Perhaps they will attend the next call, but after the impact and the manner of this intervention, a sequel is unlikely soon. The final feeling was of traveling back to the Florentino audios. Instead of “tolilis,” there were “ugly ones,” as he described the audience. This time, no filters or leaks were needed.
The president aimed and fired. He shot himself in the foot and kept going.
Although he accused the journalists of thinking they were Demosthenes, he preferred to act as the orator himself. Do you know how the Athenian politician died? By taking the poison hidden in his pen. He chose suicide over becoming a servant of the Macedonians. Let each person interpret that as they wish.
