Florentino Pérez: "With the UEFA model, Nadal and Federer would only have met twice"

Florentino Perez, this Sunday during the assembly of Real Madrid delegates. AFP7 via Europa Press (AFP7 via Europa Press)

Waiting for the European justice to take a position on the Super League, the defense of the project monopolized the most prominent part of Florentino Pérez's speech before the assembly of Real Madrid delegates held this Sunday morning.

The white president insisted on his arguments to claim the need for changes in a football business that, according to his position, is "in decline" and "sick."

Young people, he repeated again, are moving away from this sport because of the many inconsequential games it offers.

PSG and LaLiga also appeared in their attacks.

“It is a trend that must be reversed before it is too late.

The new generations focus on other types of entertainment, on

platforms , video games, networks, and even other sports.

They demand a quality product.

European competitions must give matches throughout the year between the most powerful teams.

Why is football not organized like this? ”, He exposed.

Beyond the general theses already known, Pérez used tennis to underline his proposal.

“Nadal and Federar have played 40 times in 15 years.

Is this boring?

These matchups have boosted tennis as a whole.

We have only faced Liverpool nine times in 67 years.

If tennis was organized by UEFA, we would only have seen two or three matches between Nadal and Federer, ”warned the top merengue president, who continued to charge him to the highest body in continental football.

“UEFA pushes Champions League reforms in the opposite direction, increasing the number of inconsequential matches.

His new model will serve to accelerate the decline, ”he warned in the midst of a conflict that is pending in court.

Between the end of this year and the beginning of the next, it is expected that the Court of Justice of the European Union will issue a ruling and take a position on whether UEFA has exclusivity in the organization of competitions, something that Real Madrid is fighting against as the main promoter and ideologue of the Super League.

The judicial decision will not be binding, but it will be important in the struggle between the two blocks.

Regarding the great criticism received by the Superliga -the mostly closed nature of the tournament, with many teams with a fixed place and only a small part destined for smaller teams but that have reaped sporting merits-, Florentino Pérez pointed out that the format is subject to debate and that this "cannot be an obstacle to dealing with the problems of European football".

the american model

In his speech, two darts were not lacking (without explicitly citing) PSG, an old friend and now a frontal opposition in Florentino Pérez's claims with the new tournament, in which only Barcelona, ​​​​Juventus and Madrid continue actively.

"They do not discuss the decline of this sport and they want us to accept the abuses of certain clubs with financial

," he said before launching the phrase that aroused the applause of some members always close to this club management.

“Recently, the president of the ECA (European Club Association; referring to Nasser Al-Khelaifi; also the visible head of PSG) said that Real Madrid is afraid of competition.

Just like you have to remind him who Real Madrid is, ”he released before the favor of those present.

And from PSG to LaLiga, chaired by Javier Tebas, another of his rivals.

“How can it be celebrated as a success to sell television rights for the same amount as four years ago in a context of inflation?

The number of subscribers has dropped by almost 40% since 2016-17.

And, to compensate, prices go up.

The solution is to charge more to the few that follow”, denounced Pérez, who again criticized the agreement with the CVC investment fund, another point that has led to the courts making a common front with Barcelona and Athletic.

In his opinion, Europe should look more closely at the American model.

“If we add the television rights per season of the Champions League, Europa League and the five major European leagues, the total is less than the NFL (American baseball league).

It is only played between September and February;

in total, 275 matches, and we more than 2,000.

They will do something right in the United States and we will do something wrong in Europe”, he concluded.

Economic situation

The delegates approved by an overwhelming majority (just five votes between abstentions and noes, compared to almost 1,700 supports) the accounts for the 2021-22 season and the budget for 2022-23.

According to what was presented in the assembly, Madrid obtained some profits the previous campaign of 12.9 million;

the treasury balance stood at 425 million;

and the net worth, in 546 (figures in which the works of the Bernabéu are left out).

The profit result was influenced by the fact that the club discounted future income from the agreement signed with the companies Legends and Sixth Street for the management of the future stadium as an events and leisure venue.

The pact is for 20 years and for 360 million.

For the course just started, in the white budget there is an income forecast of 770 million.

This is 48 more than last season, although it is still 6% less than what was set in 2019-20, the last one before the pandemic.

Stadium

Florentino Pérez affirmed that the forecast is for the works to conclude next summer.

At the moment, the club has invested 538 million and has already disposed of the 800 million loans (divided into two: one of 575 and another of 225 for the greenhouse that has been built on the ground floor).

“We are not going to change the name of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.

If you want to put my name, I'll tell you where," said the white president before the pleas of one of the delegates who took the floor.

Paul Lasso

Before starting with the Super League, the president made a lengthy review of the club's sporting situation.

When he arrived at basketball, he dedicated a few words to the team's former coach, Pablo Laso: of thanks and also brief.

“I want to have a very special mention for the one who has been the leader of this winning team for the last 11 seasons.

I only have words of affection, admiration, recognition and gratitude for a legend of Real Madrid and European basketball like Pablo Laso”, he stated concisely to everyone's applause.

The entity terminated the contract of the coach from Vitoria at the end of last season, after he suffered a heart attack the day after a

.

Madrid alleged Laso's health reasons while he presented medical reports that allowed him to return to the bench.

other points

The assembly approved a change in article 40 of the club's statutes to adapt to the sports law, which no longer establishes the 15% guarantee as mandatory to stand for election.

Madrid, however, will continue to demand it and target personal assets.

In addition, Amancio Amaro was named the new honorary president after the death of Francisco Gento;

and the club absorbed RSC Internacional, which will become Real Madrid C, which disappeared a few years ago.

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