Florentino Pérez presides over Christmas lunch with the media

Real Madrid held its Christmas lunch with the media in the presidential box at the Santiago Bernabéu. The event was presided over by Florentino Pérez, who said the following in his speech: "Today we return to this event which is a tradition at this time of year and which we have not been able to host until now, firstly because of the pandemic, and last year also as a result of the work on the stadium. This relationship that our club has maintained with the national and international media, throughout its history, has helped us to transmit the values that have shaped our 121 years of existence. This has also helped us to unite the entire madridista family scattered across all continents."

"These last few years have been very difficult for all of us as a consequence of the pandemic. We have experienced very difficult circumstances not only for the clubs and for the media, but also for all sectors of society. We have gradually regained strength and have come this far, but we must not forget that these effects are still present in our day-to-day lives. Let us never forget all those who have left us and who we will always carry in our hearts."

Sporting success
"We are now witnessing one of the most successful sporting cycles in our history, both in football and basketball. In the last 13 years, and with the pandemic in between, Real Madrid has won 50 trophies: 25 in football and 25 in basketball. These include 5 European Cups in football and 3 European Cups in basketball. We are therefore immensely proud of what we have achieved, thanks to the talent of players and coaches who are now legends of Real Madrid and of world sport. Our teams are true examples of what our values represent: hard work, sacrifice, self-improvement, camaraderie, respect, fair play, humility and solidarity."

Stadium
"And I would also like to point out that today we are at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, which is 76 years old. We are entering the final stages of a transformation that will mark a before and after in the history of Real Madrid. This stadium, which was the product of a visionary and our beloved president Santiago Bernabéu, will allow us to continue to aspire to lead in sporting, economic and social terms. We are now very close to fulfilling the dream of all madridistas, which will help us to continue to maintain the institutional stability and financial stability required to remain competitive in an increasingly difficult and complex sporting scenario."

Real Madrid Foundation
"And I would like to highlight, especially at this time of year, the work done by the Real Madrid Foundation. For us, solidarity has always been essential. We are active in 100 countries, and since its creation more than 26 years ago, our Foundation has helped more than one and a half million people. We have done this through over 1,000 projects and 450 socio-sports schools, aimed at bettering the quality of life of those who need it most, especially children who are at risk of social exclusion."

Christmas message
"My dear friends, I would like to extend my best wishes to all of you and to your families. I hope to see you all again next year in good health, work and happiness. And in this difficult world we live in, may peace reach every corner of the planet. Merry Christmas to all of you, thank you for coming and may it be a great year for all of us."