Florentino Pérez: 'Real Madrid is currently the strongest in its history'

The Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez opened the 2016 General Assembly of Members, held in the basketball arena at Real Madrid City, with an speech that began by paying tribute to all members and madridistas who have left us, among those were Ignacio Zoco, Manuel Velázquez, Manuel Quevedo 'Pantaleon', Luis Trujillano and Pedro de Felipe. In turn, he referred to the unity of madridismo: 'Our strength is unity. And certainly one of the strategic engines that allows us to continue to grow and enjoy an absolutely fundamental institutional stability. Our club is experiencing one of the most important moments in its history. A leader in sports, economically and socially.”
 
'Everyone here knows what being European champion means for our club. And we also know how extraordinarily difficult it is to win. These players have shown their talent but mostly have again become examples of commitment, hard work and commitment. They know that with this shirt no one ever gives up'.
 
Squad
'It is one of the most complete and our players already have a place in the heart of madridismo. And as we think about the present and the future, we have incorporated a number of players who make us even stronger. Alvaro Morata has returned after proving himself in Europe and in such a demanding and big club as Juventus, showing that he has the talent and ability to play for Real Madrid.”
 
'Coentrão has returned after playing at an important club like Monaco. Marco Asensio, who signed two seasons ago as a Real Madrid player, went out on load firstly to Mallorca and then to Espanyol, and is already giving us great joys as he is gradually becoming one of the great references of the future of Spanish football. Mariano has also joined the first team, a player who also has a spectacular future, and last season became the top scorer in the history of Castilla in that competition'.
 
La Undécima
'Here is the dream of all madridistas. Here is la Undécima. This is one of the eternal symbols that has made Real Madrid. 11 European Cups that put us on the road to reaffirm the recognition of best club of the century. And we won it together in Milan, united by the same feeling, from the legendary San Siro to any corner of the world where there is a madridista. Once again we demonstrated with passion and your support that nothing is impossible for Real Madrid and that this badge and this shirt never gives up until the last moment'.
 
'And the two European Cups that we have won in three years, facing the magnificent opponent Atletico Madrid. Again a Spanish final, a Madrid final, where our fan again set an example of behavior, mutual respect and grandeur. These titles with us today, these 5 titles, have behind them the values ​​that have made Real Madrid the largest and most prestigious sporting institution”.
 
Special mention for Cristiano Ronaldo
'He's one of the great legends of Real Madrid and one of the greatest in the history of football: Cristiano Ronaldo. He was again the top scorer in the Champions League with 16 goals, after collecting his fourth Golden Boot last season, becoming the only player in the world who has won 4 Golden Boots and has just received another acknowledgment. The Best Player in Europe award recently presented at the UEFA gala in Monaco'.
 
'In addition, Cristiano is already the top scorer in the history of Real Madrid with a record that will be very hard to beat. Cristiano Ronaldo has got 369 goals with our shirt and is a legend of Real Madrid and a legend of football. It has been a fabulous season for him, crowned by winning la Undécima and the European Championship with Portugal, with all madridistas so happy to see Cristiano and Pepe lift the continental title for their country'.
 
Sporting plan
'And thinking about the coming years we are still carrying out a plan that has given us great results. Loaning out young players to further their learning and to help them mature in big teams with the idea that someday they can return to Real Madrid. Big future prospects competing at the highest level in Europe as in the case of Borja Mayoral at Wolfsburg, Jesus Vallejo at Eintracht Frankfurt, Marcos Llorente at Alaves, Diego Llorente at Málaga, Burgui at Sporting, Raúl de Tomás at Valladolid and Lucas Torró at Oviedo'.

'European champion as a player, European champion as assistant manager and now European champion as head coach of the first team. Let me tell you that one of the decisions that has given me the most satisfaction and pride as President was to sign Zinedine Zidane for Real Madrid, first as a player and now as a coach'.
 
'As a player, I have to say that this signing was a major change for the future of our club. We could say that his signing as a player was decisive for this Real Madrid of the 21^st Century, a leader and admired by all Real Madrid fans. And now as a coach, he is already part of our great history. His knowledge of football, his knowledge of Real Madrid and these players, his management of the group, professionalism and humility, have been crucial to this success. Success from hard work and from the unity of an exceptional squad'.
 
Recognition for Arbeloa
'I would also like us to remember a player who has represented Real Madrid with immense pride and courage. Alvaro Arbeloa has left after many years with us but this will always be his home because he feels and loves this club as much as anyone. Alvaro leaves after 12 years in our club, with the affection of everyone and the Eleventh European Cup. We speak of an academy product that symbolises perfectly how you can get to the top through work, companionship, loyalty and team spirit'.
 
Upcoming challenges
'This team has already given us the first great joy of the season. Faced with a great team like Sevilla, we won the European Super Cup in Trondheim, Norway. And coming up in a month and a half we have another big event in Japan, where we will play the Club World Cup'.
'We know what Real Madrid means. We always want to do better. We always seek more. Our spirit is to confront the seemingly impossible. But we must also be aware of our present and of what we have been able to achieve together'.
 
Our members
'The members are crucial to our club because they are the sole owners of this institution and responsible for ensuring compliance with our principles and ensuring that they continue to be passed down from generation to generation. Our strength is unity. And certainly one of the strategic engines that allows us to continue to grow and enjoy an absolutely fundamental institutional stability. Our club is experiencing one of the most important moments in its history. A leader in sports, economy and social. We are also one of the sports most respected institutions for its transparency and its firm commitment to Solidarity'.
 
'We will continue with a decision we made in 2011. As president I think we have to facilitate and accept the incorporation of new members. Therefore, the children and grandchildren of members of Real Madrid will join our club if they wish'.
 
Economic strength
'Real Madrid currently has the most financial stability in its history, leaders in revenue for 11 consecutive years and the prestigious international publication FORBES has again rated us as the most valuable club in world football. Our economic leadership is the basis of our independence and allows us to be competitive in an increasingly complex international scene by the nature of many clubs with an economic and financial power with which it is becoming harder to compete. Clubs that have become the property of large investment groups from China, Russia, Singapore, Emirates and Qatar'.
 
'It is worth bearing in mind that our equity amounts to 442 million euros. It is almost 15 times higher than where we were in 2000. And it is this heritage that give stability to Real Madrid and new generations of members'.
 
Basketball
'In Basketball our team is breaking all records with amazing play and winning many trophies: 12 titles in the last 6 seasons. We were coming off a season that was perfect. I remind you that we had had won every possible title. And this team led by Pablo Laso, has again become an example of overcoming situations, playing a style of basketball that will define an era. They won the Intercontinental Cup in Brazil, with the third consecutive Copa del Rey and also the second consecutive league title'.
 
Academy
'Our academy is a key part of our identity. This Ciudad Real Madrid is the factory where every day they are developed athletically and with values to form the great players of the future. Real Madrid has one of the best academies in the world. It has produced 8 current first team players: Morata, Lucas Vázquez, Casemiro, Carvajal, Kiko Casilla, Nacho, Mariano and Ruben Yanez'.
 
Real Madrid City
'Today we are celebrating this General Assembly of Members at our Real Madrid City, in our house, in a basketball training arena where all our basketball teams train. A place that has been described as unique by all the professionals who have visited it'.
 
Development of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium
'And of course we also want this process of development for our Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, we want to become an emblem of avant-garde architecture. We continue, therefore, working to tackle one of the most exciting challenges. Converting the Bernabéu in to the best stadium in the world. The most modern, safest and most comfortable for our members and fans. A stadium that lives up to the best in our history'.
 
'The Bernabeu will have a unique exterior image and will be fully covered with an avant-garde single metal skin that will improve the comfort of all spectators in the stands. It will be more efficient and more sustainable through an increased energy efficiency stadium. The Santiago Bernabéu stadium is the main home of our emotions. Because of this we are going to dedicate the best of ourselves to remain eternal. And we will conquer that eternity again, making it the best stadium in the world'.
 
Real Madrid Foundation
'It's one of our biggest commitments although in this area there are no titles or trophies. Real Madrid is and will be alongside the weakest. Our history and legend makes us a club without frontiers, without prejudices and barriers. And through the Real Madrid Foundation, the solidarity soul of our club reaches those who need it the most'.
 
'We are present in 72 countries with 261 socio-sporting schools that serve 34,000 children, most at risk of marginalisation. In Spain we serve more than 10,000 children through 158 social projects. In total, more than 44,000 children are cared for and receive training in values ​​in our 419 projects throughout the world'.
 
Our media
'We have again been pioneers. The first club in Spain to have its own nationwide television channel, broadcasting through DTT and HD quality. The first club with a TV license to serve the members and fans of Real Madrid, wherever they are, so that they feel that bond with their club. A television channel with a schedule that will be developed in the coming months. We want it to be a TV channel for all ages, open to everyone and which caters for all madridistas experiences and emotions'.
 
'And I want to especially highlight a program where for the first time we can see the work of our Foundation. 'Soul Stories' tells the stories of children who are cared for in our socio-sporting schools from all corners of the world. A program that is already nominated for the IRIS Awards at the Academy of Television'.
 
'Realmadrid.com has consolidated its new design and organisation of content that have made our informative website a clear reference of Real Madrid. Last May we had record-breaking average unique visitors, with over 6 million. And during the celebration of la Undécima, the historical peak of unique visitors was recorded in one day: 1.6 million'.