Real Madrid president Florentino hits out at Man City, PSG and Newcastle
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has hit out at the rise of state-owned clubs in Europe.
Speaking to the Real Madrid board members ahead of the club’s general assembly, Los Blancos’ president stressed the threat of state-backed clubs, with PSG, Manchester City and now Newcastle United at the forefront of his ire.
“We have to fulfil our contracts and we try to bring in good players and the best players,” Florentino Perez responded when asked by Radio MARCA.
“But you have to be able to afford them. Now you offer 200 million [euros] and they don’t sell.
“When they finish their contracts it’s better, but right now there are a lot of state-backed clubs and they don’t want to sell you players.
“I strive for [financial] management [of the club] to be the main thing, not the money you get from elsewhere. The time will come when the top 30 clubs in Europe will be owned by countries.
“That is not the principle of the European Union. I came here to fight and I have been fighting since I arrived.”
The Real Madrid president also discussed the European Super League, of which he was made president, and how he wants the project to emulate Santiago Bernabeu, who brought about the European Cup.
“In 1955, the European Cup was created and it was the same situation as now. Football has to be played based on the merits and resources that you have,” Florentino Perez commented.
“And you have to have the principles of the EU: solidarity, competition and fair play. We have to sort it out and I will fight for it.”