In Tarragona, Real Madrid supporters have been weighing up Florentino Pérez’s re-election as club president, with the result prompting debate among local fan clubs. His victory over challenger Enrique Riquelme was expected, but the margin has drawn attention across the province.
Brenda Den Herder, president of the Peña Madridista de Cambrils, said she had expected Pérez to win, although not by such a narrow margin. She said she would have been surprised if he had lost, but had thought he would take between 70 and 75 per cent of the vote.
Den Herder said the result suggested a protest vote against the current management. She also said Riquelme appeared to gain support through an active campaign in Catalonia, with many meetings and a message that connected with some members who were unhappy with the club’s direction.
She added that she was surprised not to see names such as Raúl, Fernando Hierro or Vicente del Bosque linked to the alternative candidacy in the end. Even so, she said Pérez deserved another term and argued that he had given the club a great deal over the years.
Looking ahead, Den Herder said she hoped the new project under José Mourinho would help Real Madrid return to success. She also said the squad needed a strong authority figure to deal with problems that had become clear in recent seasons.
Antonio Naranjo, president of the Peña Madridista de El Morell, took a similar view. He said Pérez’s win was no surprise and pointed to his long record at the club, while also saying the election allowed different views within the fan base to be heard. He added that areas such as the basketball section and Real Madrid Castilla still need improvement.
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