Real Madrid

Florentino Perez officially took office as President of Real Madrid at the investiture ceremony held at the Presidential Balcony of the Santiago Bernabeu and offered the following speech:

"President of Honor of Real Madrid, Alfredo di Stefano. President Vicente Boluda. Authorities. Friends. Good afternoon and thank you for being here on such an important day.

This is an event of great importance to us all. It is a matter of managing the most prestigious sports institution in the world for the next four years. It is an honor and a tremendous responsibility. We know what we are getting into and what is expected of us. We will work as hard as we can to live up to the challenges that lay ahead.

We must recover the dreams, stability and lost time. Real Madrid must dismiss all doubts in the pursuit of the goal that has always gone hand in hand with its spirit: work at all times to be considered the Best Club of the 21st Century. It will be this Board of Directors' obsession to meet that challenge.  

We arrive with all the humility in the world and aware that we must overcome great obstacles. We also arrive at a complicated time for the world. The road ahead will be difficult, but we have the passion and necessary ideas to overcome the great challenges of this complicated time.

We have only had a few days to explain to our members and supporters the why and how Real Madrid will recover the values that have converted it into legend, as well as to develop a financial-sporting model that will continue remaining faithful to our history.

We want to return Real Madrid to where it belongs and we will work feverishly, calmly and patiently while carefully taking into account every minute detail. Our Club has been, and is, essential to the history of Football, which is why it must always be a model.  We must not forget that our prestige and our image are the most valued treasures we have and what we have accomplished over the 107 years of history.

Real Madrid was founded and driven by indisputable values; values that left us all with unforgettable men. Men like Santiago Bernabeu and Alfredo di Stefano who showed us not only what road to take, but how to take it. 

We have an innovative, stable and exciting project, but we will also take into account the wisdom that has contributed to the legacy of the best of our history.

We must now take on this great responsibility and offer our very best effort. A large part of our true strength lies in those identity traits, which is why the values of commitment, talent, sacrifice, fair play and ethics must always be at the forefront. For that, unity among members will be an element that must prove decisive. We have experienced a period of confusion, but today I would like to take advantage of this event to remind you that throughout our history we have reached great heights when we have stood united. I therefore ask all club employees, all our members and all of our fans for their support, encouragement and complicity.

Real Madrid must be an institution of impeccable behavior. This is what has made it so great. Real Madrid must not forget where it comes from and must have a good idea of where it is going. We know how to meet this new challenge of transformation and modernization that the Club needs.

We want a Real Madrid that is a leader in all sections: sporting, financial, social, member respect and the goal of contributing to improving this world. We are therefore aware that we have an immense challenge ahead.

These first hours as President are a time full of special emotions for me, which is why I would like to thank all those who have supported me, especially my family, for their love and affection.

Many of our members and fans are today hinging on my first words, and I would like to tell them that we will devote all our effort to building a spectacular team with great players who are role models on and off the pitch. A club where ethics are indestructible and where solidarity will be a basic cornerstone of behavior.

The challenge that today begins for all of us is possibly the biggest and most difficult that we have ever taken on, but I assure you that we will make this Real Madrid a great symbol and example. We are going to rebuild and reassert the dreams of all Madridistas.

We have a lot of work ahead. There is a lot to do, so let us begin. Among us all we can return hope and excitement. Thank you very much."