Florentino Pérez will continue as president of Real Madrid after winning the club’s first elections in 20 years, according to Real Madrid. The election took place on May 27, 2026, where Pérez secured 65% of the vote against challenger Enrique Riquelme’s 35%.[2]
What happened
Pérez, who has held the presidency for 23 years across two terms, faced his first opposition in two decades when Riquelme emerged as a challenger. A total of 33,555 members cast votes, but the election faced delays due to Riquelme’s challenge of approximately 1,000 postal votes, leading to over 400 being invalidated.[1]
The election results cleared the path for Madrid to announce José Mourinho as their new manager, with the club paying a €15 million release fee to Benfica. Additionally, Pérez pledged to make a bid of “at least €150 million” for a new star player, identified as Michael Olise.[3]
Why it matters
Pérez’s victory grants him a five-year mandate to advance his vision for the club, which includes structural changes and potentially controversial financial investments. This election highlighted the fragile state of opposition, even as Riquelme indicated a commitment to challenge Pérez’s perceived privatization of the club.
Background
On May 14, 2026, Pérez unexpectedly called these elections during a press conference, citing two trophy-less years as a catalyst for change. His actions surprised the football community, as many did not foresee any serious challenge to his authority.
Riquelme, a newcomer to the political landscape of Madrid, had a brief campaign to assemble support. His intentions were to fundamentally change how the club operated, directly opposing Pérez’s approach and raising concerns about increasing privatization.
What’s next
The club will move forward with plans to implement Pérez’s strategies while formal announcements for new players and managerial decisions are expected shortly, particularly the confirmation of Mourinho on June 1, 2026.
