Florentino Pérez receives standing ovations every time he speaks. The latest was at the general meeting of Real Madrid members. He is not used to being contradicted and throws a serious tantrum when that happens, as was seen with the Ballon d'Or.
But it is healthy to know that even Florentino Pérez himself can be wrong in his statements. In the assembly he made multiple contradictions that no one bothered to remind him of. Here we do it for the sake of Real Madrid.
1.-The noise of concerts
"We have two things here, the parking lot and the neighbors. If they take them away from us tomorrow, that's OK. If we can do concerts, we'll do them. But we'll do what the local authorities want.
"Let's not give too much importance to the issue of income, because most it comes from sponsors and they are amazing. We'll see what we can do about the noise. There are neighborhoods where there are open-air concerts at 4:00 and you can hear them. Anyway, we'll see. But let's be clear that our business is soccer, the museum, the store...
"There are those who say that we want to do concerts to make a fortune. But nobody makes a fortune. The one who makes a fortune is the one who sings, and who sings well, too."
"Organizing concerts is not a particularly lucrative activity for the club. I want you to know that the income from this is barely 1%."
"We have a multifunctional stadium 365 days a year"
-The media that endorses Florentino boasted about his annual income of 400 million euros from concerts. No sponsor pays those amounts. Not even close.
-Open-air concerts at four in the morning? Where has Don Florentino seen this?
-If your business is soccer, why did you get involved in organizing non-sporting events at Bernabéu and boast about it?
-Is it only the one who sings that gets rich? That is not what the media holding company that forms Mr. Florentino'sendorsing NODO sold to people.
-Do the 400 million announced for the multifunctional activity at Bernabéu represent 1% of the budget? What is Real Madrid's budget? 40 billion?
-It would also be good if you could specify the multifunctionality of Bernabéu 365 days a year. Provide details about the activities that take place there every day... if such statement is true.
2.-The controversial parking
"Almost all of the club's income comes from soccer. The rest of the things we do are also for image. Look, nobody builds a parking lot for 25 games a year. They asked us to do it from the Chamartín district and we do it with pleasure, for example."
"I'd like to take this opportunity to say that, regarding the money we have requested for financing... we paid 60 million euros over 30 years. But with the investment we've made, we can earn between 120 and 150. We haven't made a bad deal, have we?"
-In the end we have to believe that Real Madrid got involved in the construction of a parking lot because the neighbors asked them to.
-The 1.8 billion euros that Real Madrid has to pay would have been paid with one concert after another, with the income from the mega-use of the facilities. Either that or they would fall from the sky.
3.-The best youth system in the world
"The current squad has six players who have come through the club's youth system. These are Carvajal, Lucas Vázquez, Fran García, Valverde, Rodrygo and Vinícius. The data clearly shows that this is the best youth system in the world.
"This is where the values of Real Madrid are formed and grow. It is the best youth academy in soccer. 191 players who have been trained play in professional leagues."
-For Florentino Pérez, Valverde, Rodrygo and Vinícius are from the youth team. That says it all. It's as if Barça considered Pedri or Araújo to be from the youth team.
-Zero Real Madrid players in the Spanish national team. Never seen before. The reality is a clear reply to the smokescreen the Real Madrid president has sold regarding the youth team.
-Now Asencio appears and there's ovation. What are they waiting for to get the most out of the youth team in the first team? Or are the kids just a business to get some euros from them?
-Aside from money, how does Real Madrid benefit from developing players for others to enjoy?
-Barça plays with eight real youth players. Real Madrid, with one or none. Barça is leading. But the best youth team is Real Madrid's, says the president in front of his followers.
4.-The fiasco of women's soccer
"The women's team confirmed their place in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday. Some of our players, such as captain Olga Carmona, are already recognized as world figures. I would like to highlight our affection and admiration for Ivana Andrés and Kenti Robles. An example of commitment who have ended their cycl last summer."
-That's all Florentino Pérez can think of to say to the club's owners about women's soccer.
-It would've been nice if you had explained why you didn't attend last Clásico, the one with the other 4-0. Maybe because you already knew the result and preferred to avoid it, like the Ballon d'Or ceremony?
-He could also have explained why 15 classics have been played with 15 victories for Barça... if Olga Carmona is a world figure.
-Or if it is within Real Madrid's calculations to buy a section to act as an extra without winning a title while Barça wins everything.
5.-Bernabéu is a world symbol
"Bernabéu is a global symbol that inspires admiration throughout the world. It enhances soccer, the city of Madrid and Spain as a brand."
-All of this at the same time. Soccer, the city of Madrid and Spain as a brand must be grateful to him because Bernabéu is a world symbol. Who said it? Why so much interest in repeating a thousand times until it becomes true that Bernabéu is the best stadium in the world? Can there be anything related to Mr. Florentino that is not the best in the world?
-By the way, does Mr. Florentino know that, by the time it's finished, Camp Nou will have 25,000 more seats than that world symbol that has been too small since its very birth?
6.-Vinícius, the best in the world... for many
"We are proud of a player like Vinícius. For many, the best player in the world. Dear Vini, I want you to know that Madrid fans are proud of you, of everything you have had to endure at many times, unfairly. All of this has made you the player you are."
-At least he admits in his sentence "for many". That is, not "for all".
-The sad reality for Mr. Florentino is that for many others Vinícius is not the best in the world. He is not used to being contradicted. But the Ballon d'Or vote made it clear that Vinícius doesn't excel in some of the aspects of soccer.
-Vinícius may have had to put up with a lot. Not as much as referees, rivals and opposing fans have to put up with from him every game, however. He has called Spain racist and no one moved a finger. Nobody replied to the antipathy he spreads with a behavior that has nothing to do with the color of his skin. But as long as his president continues to applaud him and he shows no intention of changing his ways, he has every chance of losing the Ballon d'Or in 2025 and the next and the next. It won't be due to lacking quality.
7.-Barça and Madrid have to help each other
-And to do so, there's nothing better than disrespecting the rival club from its own TV, and those that are not. Or presenting yourself as a private prosecutor in the Negreira case as the affected party. Also refusing to set foot in the rival's box or not going to the fraternity meals between directors. All in the purest Ballon d'Or style, where they don't agree with you. Has Barça's need in the Super League changed your mind?