Florentino Pérez: “Despite the difficulties, Real Madrid has become the first football club in the world to exceed one billion euros in revenue”

Florentino Pérez opened the 2024 General Assembly of Compromised Members, which was held in person and virtually at the Real Madrid City basketball pavilion. The Real Madrid president opened by paying tribute to the victims of the DANA, the manager Luis Blasco, the vice-president of Real Madrid in 1995 Juan Miguel Villar Mir, the club worker Rubén Rueda Fernández, the supporters' club representative José Luis Vicente García, the legendary goalkeeper Miguel Ángel González El Gato, the basketball player José Ramón Ramos, the fitness trainer Pepe Portolés and the Madridistas, football players and presidents who died during the last season.

"I would like to begin by paying tribute to the victims of one of the greatest tragedies we have experienced in our country in recent times. Our condolences and solidarity go out to all those who have endured the terrible consequences of the DANA. All our strength and affection goes to those affected, especially to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives. We are all still shocked by what has happened, especially in the Comunidad Valenciana and we will never forget them. Our crest and our shirt belong to the hearts of millions of people. We are bonded by the same feelings and values that identify us, regardless of our origin, language, culture, ideology or religion."

Unity
"Today, Real Madrid is one big family. I genuinely believe that this is our great strength. The unity of the members, the unity of all of us has enabled us to achieve everything we have achieved. We have constructed an institutional stability that allows us to face challenges with the conviction that we can overcome any adversity."

Legacy
"We are experiencing a new golden age having won 56 trophies in the last 14 seasons: 29 trophies in football and 27 in basketball, including 9 European Cups: 6 in football and 3 in basketball. The legacy of Real Madrid has flourished in recent years, and this has also been possible thanks to the sacrifices that this club has made in a very challenging context, in socio-economic circumstances marked by the pandemic and post-pandemic, and by international conflicts. Despite the difficulties I referred to earlier, Real Madrid has become the first football club in the world to exceed one billion euros in revenue."

Sporting project
"It has been another historic year for Real Madrid. Here are the six trophies we won last season and the first one won at the start of the current season. In football, the club's 15th European Cup; the 36th League title; the 13th Spanish Super Cup and the sixth Uefa Super Cup we won this summer in Warsaw. And in basketball, the 37th league title; the 29th Copa del Rey and the 10th Spanish Super Cup."

“Injuries are the worst thing in football and sport. But we know that Dani Carvajal and Eder Militão will successfully overcome this hard time and that we will soon see them back on the pitch as the two leaders of the team they are.”

“I begin with our coach Carlo Ancelotti. After 14 trophies, he is now, together with our beloved and always-remembered Miguel Muñoz, the Real Madrid coach with the most trophies in our history. And in the history of Real Madrid, which is enormous, I want us to express our admiration, affection and gratitude to the players who have finished their time at Real Madrid after giving their all for this crest and this shirt. Firstly, our captain Nacho, the man who lifted La Decimoquinta in London. One of our greatest academy products who joined Real Madrid when he was just 10 years old. He finished his spell at Real Madrid as part of that group of chosen ones with 6 European Cups.”

“It will be very unlikely to see a player like Toni Kroos again. One of the best players in our history and one of the greatest legends of world football. He departs with 23 trophies at Real Madrid. Kroos left after winning his last Champions League to join Gento, with 6 European Cups, in the Real Madrid history books. And thanks also to Joselu. A Madridista at heart and a Real Madrid academy product who will always be proud to have been the star of one of those magical nights at the Bernabéu against Bayern Munich.”

Youth academy
“The youth academy is an essential part of defining the history and identity of this club, because it is here that our youngsters are educated and grow up following the values of Real Madrid. And the figures show conclusively that this is the greatest youth academy in the world. At present, 191 football players who have been developed at Real Madrid City are playing in professional leagues. 51 do so in the Primera División of Spanish football, 84 in the international leagues and 56 in our Segunda División.”

Women’s football
“Our team, coached by Alberto Toril, finished runners-up in the league last season and qualified for the Champions League for the fourth time in four years. And on Wednesday, they secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League with two games remaining in the group stage. Our commitment is firm to continue contributing to the growth of women's football.”

Basketball
“It is clear that, as in football, in basketball we are also witnessing one of the most successful periods in our history. And last season we once again experienced something that is very difficult to achieve, the league title, Copa del Rey and Super Cup treble. This team has played in the four finals of the four competitions in which we have participated. And this is something that reflects the hunger of players who have won everything with Real Madrid.”

“I would like to make a special tribute to the legends who have been involved in this new golden era and who have decided to end their careers. Rudy Fernández has been one of the greatest legends of Real Madrid and of world basketball. And another of our great legends is bidding farewell to basketball as a professional player: Sergio Rodríguez.”

Financial situation
“This year we have accomplished an unprecedented milestone. Real Madrid has become the first football club to exceed €1 billion in revenue. We have reached exactly €1,073 million in revenues, which represents a significant increase of 27% over the previous year. The financial results for the 2023-2024 season underline our position as one of the strongest and most successful clubs in the world of sport.”

Assets and facilities
“And now I would like to talk to you about the Bernabéu, the home of the Madridistas and the most emblematic and iconic stadium in world football. We are now, then, in the last phase of completing the great challenge that Real Madrid set itself five years ago: to make the Bernabéu a universal avant-garde icon and an architectural emblem of the City of Madrid.”

“It is inconceivable that we have to learn in some toxic digital media outlets that the Bernabéu does not even have a licence to host football matches. The organisation of concerts is not a particularly lucrative activity for the club. We simply rent out the stadium and I would like you to know that the income from this would be around 1% of our annual budget.”

“For this reason, we place our stadium at the disposal of the people of Madrid. And it will be the authorities of our city and of our community who will decide whether they want Madrid to continue to be considered one of the world's main venues, a reference point for the great tours of the international music scene.”

“And now I will also discuss the concession of the underground car park next to our stadium. The City Council put this car park next to our stadium out to tender because it believed that it was the best way to provide a service to one of the most essential areas of Madrid and one of the least equipped with this infrastructure, reserving a third of the spaces for residents under very favourable conditions. Our club realised that we could collaborate with the city by applying for the competition and making a significant effort. Because, can anyone understand that in order to play 25 football matches a year, lasting two hours, an investment of almost 100 million euros is justified?”

Reflection on current situation in football
“I have been warning for some time that our beloved sport is critically wounded. There are many social and economic indicators that show this. The situation has never been as serious as it is now. Practically all the major leagues are experiencing significant setbacks.”

“Spanish clubs are in crisis and the operation with CVC has only exacerbated the situation. And I can tell you that we will go all the way to the Supreme Court, if necessary, to put a stop to its harmful effects on our football.”

“If the domestic leagues are struggling more and more, the European competitions do not present a better picture either. The new Champions League format has shown, as we predicted, that it is not the solution to the problems. UEFA has increased the number of matches, but each match counts for much less than before. And the competition will only stir fans' passion at the end of the season and not at the beginning, as one would expect.”

“In addition, the excessive calendar in today's football is taking its toll on the well-being of players, who are struggling to cope with an unprecedented schedule. This situation not only affects their performance, but is directly linked to an alarming rise in injuries.”

“And we have to say, in the same respect, that so far this season alone, i.e. in just 3 months, Real Madrid has had 14 injured players and a total of 22 injuries. And in our league there have been, in the current season, 9 cruciate ruptures, of which 2 are of our first-team players. According to medical specialists, the causes of cruciate ruptures are mainly fatigue-related. A heavier match burden, with less rest between each match, has been shown to increase the risk of cruciate injuries.”

“FIFA has significantly extended the national team windows and, in addition, has established a Club World Cup that will deprive football players of their essential annual rest. UEFA has increased the number of inconsequential and unnecessary matches in the European tournaments it organises, disregarding the well-being of football players. And it also created a new tournament: the Nations League. The result is the decline of football, with a calendar and formats devised without taking into account the main stakeholders in the sport: footballers, clubs and fans.”

Super League
“The Super League proposal to broadcast football for free, through the Unify platform, is truly innovative. And it aims to apply to football what has already triumphed in the film, series and music industries. Just as Santiago Bernabéu’s vision drove the creation of the European Cup overcoming opposition, as now, from FIFA and UEFA, Real Madrid has once again honoured its history.”

“We have a unique opportunity to develop a new model of governance and competition that prioritises both the well-being of the players and the passion and excitement of the fans. There is a real opportunity to change course, to revitalise football and restore it to grandeur. And the sooner we do it, the better.”

LaLiga
“Regarding our relationship with the administrators of the League, we have two fundamental problems: the lack of transparency and integrity in their management, and their continuous attacks on our assets. Regarding the former, we regret that the lack of transparency in their management continues to be quite alarming. For example, we are surprised that, at this point in time, we do not know (despite our insistence and our many requests to LaLiga) how LaLiga justifies, for instance, the money it distributes to the media and the clubs on a bilateral basis.”

“Our club must possess an organisational structure that protects us as an institution and that also protects all of us as owners of Real Madrid. You can be sure that we will do whatever is necessary to ensure that this club continues to belong to its members, as it has done throughout our 122 years of history. In summary, to ensure that no one can take away our economic heritage.”

“Therefore, I confirm that we will bring to this Assembly a proposal for the reorganisation of the club's corporate structure that clearly guarantees our future, protects us from the threats we are experiencing and, above all, ensures that we members are the real owners of our club, the real owners of our financial assets in our own right.”

Ballon d'Or
“From here I would like to say to Rodri that he has the affection and recognition of Real Madrid because, without a doubt, he deserved a Ballon d'Or, but not this year. His Ballon d'Or should have been last year, when he won everything with his team and scored the decisive goal in the final of the Champions League.”

“Clearly, this year the Ballon d'Or should have gone to a Real Madrid player, regardless of the criteria applied. I personally believe that the Ballon d'Or should be organised independently and the votes for this award should be in the hands of people of renowned prestige and solvency in the world of football, who risk their reputation with their vote.”

“In these circumstances, Real Madrid felt it appropriate not to attend this year's Ballon d'Or gala.”

To end
“My fellow members. We have the responsibility to continue transmitting what we once learned from our elders and from the greatest figures who are our benchmarks in order to continue being leaders in football and world football. Unity is our strength to continue dreaming for a passion that is a universal feeling. We are proud to be Real Madrid fans.”