Florentino Perez takes aim at Real Madrid presidential rival over Erling Haaland claims – “Embarrassment of a hoax”

In less than 24 hours’ time, the polls will open for the first Real Madrid presidential election in 20 years. Florentino Perez and Enrique Riquelme will go head-to-head for the top job at the Bernabeu, and ahead of the voting opening, the former spoke on Saturday at his closing campaign ceremony.

Perez has been very vocal in the media this week in his criticism of Riquelme, and he did not stop on Saturday. As per Marca, he accused of rival of misleading Real Madrid members regarding promises made over the last few days.

“Real Madrid members will not allow lies, not everything goes. There are those who have no scruples and use the Real Madrid shirt to embarrass the members. We have had to endure the embarrassment of a hoax being launched on a television show to deceive the member, and that minutes later the player’s father, the player’s representative and the player himself, who was from Manchester City, flatly deny it and threaten to file legal action. This is something that surely does not cause any blush, but all the members of Real Madrid and me in particular are very embarrassed. And that ridicule seems to have no end.”

Perez slams Riquelme over managerial pursuit

MADRID, 26/10/2025.- El presidente del Real Madrid Florentino Pérez, y la presidenta de la Comunidad de Madrid Isabel Díaz Ayuso, durante el partido de la décima jornada de LaLiga EA Sports, que Real Madrid y FC Barcelona disputan este domingo en el estadio Santiago Bernabéu. EEFE/ Sergio Perez

Perez also slammed Riquelme over his plans to go for Jurgen Klopp as the manager he would target if elected as president. He also accused his rival of changing targets during the election process as a deliberate ploy to mislead those that will vote on Sunday.

“Last night they advanced the name of a coach to go talk to him, and this coach responded to them a few minutes later saying that he doesn’t even bother. But didn’t they have a coach in mind who was active at the beginning of the campaign? Anything goes to these gentlemen.”