Florentino Pérez is staying put at Real Madrid, and frankly nobody should be too surprised. The man has been running the Bernabéu like his personal passion project for so long that holding an election almost felt like a formality. Challenger Enrique Riquelme gave it a go, but Pérez won convincingly, securing his grip on one of the biggest football clubs on the planet for the foreseeable future.
What makes this result genuinely interesting is what comes next. With Pérez confirmed in charge, the club can now officially press ahead with confirming José Mourinho as their new manager. Yes, that José Mourinho. Love him or loathe him, and most football fans have done both at some point, the Special One returning to Real Madrid is the kind of story that writes itself. He had a complicated first spell there, falling out with pretty much everyone before eventually leaving in a cloud of tension. So naturally, Pérez has decided to bring him back. Bold move, that.
Pérez also has plans to sell a five percent stake in the club, which is a significant financial step and tells you something about the direction he wants to take Madrid in terms of investment and long-term growth. Whether supporters are entirely comfortable with outside ownership creeping in is another matter, but Pérez tends to do things his way regardless of the noise around him.
From a neutral perspective, and as a Manchester United fan who knows all too well what managerial chaos looks like, this is a fascinating appointment. Mourinho at his best is genuinely one of the greatest managers in the game. At his worst, he can derail an entire squad and turn a dressing room into a reality television show. Real Madrid are not a small club with thin skin, but they have been down this road before.
The election result gives Pérez the mandate he wanted, and now he has to deliver. Mourinho coming in means expectations will be sky high from day one, which is exactly the kind of pressure both men seem to thrive on. It should be quite the watch.
Let me know your thoughts.