Key Takeaways:
- Florentino Perez secured 65% of the votes in Real Madrid’s first contested presidential election since 2006, held on Sunday
- Challenger Enrique Riquelme earned 35% of the 33,555 votes cast, conceding just over an hour before the official count
- Perez promised major transfers, including a €150 million signing to be announced on Tuesday and potential appointments of Jose Mourinho, Ibrahima Konate, and Denzel Dumfries
Perez Retains Presidency Amid Rarely Contested Poll
Florentino Perez emerged victorious in Real Madrid’s first significant presidential contest in twenty years, securing a further four-year term at the club’s helm during the early hours of Monday morning. The veteran Spanish construction executive, aged 79, claimed 65% of the total votes, according to the club’s official count, while his challenger, renewable energy entrepreneur Enrique Riquelme, captured 35% of ballots cast by the 33,555 participating members at Real’s Valdebebas training complex on the outskirts of Madrid on Sunday.
The result was announced by Real Madrid TV, with Riquelme conceding just over an hour prior to the final tally becoming official. Riquelme told reporters: “I would like to congratulate Florentino Perez’s campaign on its victory. Real Madrid will not go another 20 years without an election.”
Florentino Pérez: “We have won the elections and will continue working to keep winning titles.”
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) June 7, 2026
Election Context and Key Numbers
Perez called the election on 12 May, despite having two years left in his term, following a second consecutive campaign without silverware for Los Blancos, who remain the record 15-time European champions, and as rivals Barcelona retained their La Liga crown. The decisive election saw widespread engagement among Real’s socios, with Perez lauding the outcome in his victory speech in Madrid, calling the result “extraordinary” and claiming Real had “set an example to the world of transparency and harmony”.
Perez stated: “This has been a great day for Real Madrid. We have won across the board, that is to say, across all age groups. And we have achieved the second-best result in the history of Real Madrid elections.”
The last contested presidential race at Real Madrid occurred in 2006, when Ramon Calderon narrowly won. Perez first assumed office in 2000 and has maintained his position by running unopposed five times since 2009, rendering this election especially significant.
| Candidate | Votes (%) | Votes (Number) |
|---|---|---|
| Florentino Perez | 65% | 21,810 (approx.) |
| Enrique Riquelme | 35% | 11,745 (approx.) |
Transfer Promises and Club Vision
Throughout his campaign, Perez committed to major squad movements, highlighting plans to appoint Benfica manager Jose Mourinho and to invest €150 million in an undisclosed player, whose identity will be revealed on Tuesday. Should the move for Mourinho proceed, Benfica confirmed that a payment of €15 million would be necessary to release the Portuguese coach from his contract, as stated in an announcement to Portugal’s CMVM market regulator. Perez further identified defenders Ibrahima Konate and Denzel Dumfries as prospective signings.
Riquelme’s Platform and Policy Differences
Enrique Riquelme’s campaign sought to appeal to the club’s membership by proposing the acquisitions of Manchester City stars Erling Haaland and Rodri, as well as a vision to transform Valdebebas into a social hub with hotel facilities, swimming pools, a gym, and a 15,000-capacity arena for Real Madrid’s basketball team, also suitable for concerts. Riquelme strongly criticised Perez’s proposal, outlined last November, to establish a subsidiary through which external investors could acquire a circa 5% stake in the club, asserting that he “vehemently rejects” the plan and accused Perez of aiming to “privatise the club”.
Perez reiterated that Real Madrid’s member-owned model would continue as it stands, affirming that membership would retain “a real and tangible value”, and confirmed that any statutory changes would be subject to extraordinary general meeting ratification.
Financial Standing and Club Valuation
For the 2024-25 period, Real Madrid reported a revenue of €1.19 billion, with the club holding a Forbes valuation of $6.75 billion, which stands as the highest in the global football landscape.
