Real Madrid

Monday 1 June 2009

Dear Club Members and friends of Real Madrid,

I became President on 16 January, taking on a compromise and responsibility I could not refuse. I took the reins of an institution that could not afford lack of leadership and social fragmentation.

I asked Madridismo to be united, act responsibly and be calm in order for us to be able to govern this entity with confidence and serenity.

I dedicated myself to this organisation to defend the interests of the Club and I compromised with a series of social goals that, fortunately, have been achieved.

In this, my last day as President of the Club, I would like to say to all Club members that it has been an honour and a very satisfying job to have been at the helm of the Club.

I’m here as what I truly am, a Madridista proud of having captained this ship towards an orderly transition and of having done something to achieve a much needed social peace.

My only goal during this time has been to unite Madridismo, heal old wounds, defend our values and achieve institutional stability. I believe we have moved forward in all these areas since the celebration of the last General Assembly, in which we changed to absentee voting system that caused so many problems in the past, and we set the stage for this new Board to be able to work with ease in the good name of Real Madrid.

I would like to express my very special thanks to the Members of my Board. They took on this challenge with me and stayed together to achieve the goals we set ourselves. I thank them for their hard work, devotion, dedication and unconditional loyalty.

I also wish to thank the players, the coaching staff, executives and every single employee of the Club. They’ve all been very professional during key moments.

I also want to thank the media for their understanding during these months.

Finally, I would like to say a few words to the new President, Florentino Perez, and his Board. Real Madrid is a difficult challenge, as you know better than anyone.

As the seaman I am, I hand over to you a Club that sails in the right direction, a ship that –no doubt- you will be able to bring home safely. We’ve set it on its course with an excellent crew, so that it can one day become the Best Club of the 21st Century.

It’s time for this Board to take a step back and hand over the reins to a new governing team that will do its best to make this Club successful again.

Mr. President of Real Madrid, dear Florentino, this isn’t the end, but the beginning of everything. I wish you all the luck in the world with all my heart and offer my help in anything you may need.

Mr. President, Members of the Board, Club Members... Thank you. Now and forever... Hala Madrid!