Power dey attract people for politics and sport. Na wetin both worlds share. But e get one thing: e dey bring paranoia for those wey dey enjoy am and hope things no go change. The leader wey think e no fit be replaced dey see threats everywhere.
This week, we see two examples for public appearances of Isabel Díaz Ayuso and Florentino Pérez. Both be part of that Madrid elite of power wey dey always for headlines.
After a bad season with more crime stories than titles, Real Madrid president call press conference to complain say everything na campaign against am. “I fight against everybody,” e talk. “Na campaign against Real Madrid and against me.” E put himself for top of world football: “I dey shame to talk am, but dem choose me as best president for history. For all clubs.”
Díaz Ayuso don talk many times say there be “campaign of disrepute at highest level” against her, and she point to Pedro Sánchez government as culprit. Even when her boyfriend get accused of tax crime, she accuse “state powers” of being behind the investigation. For interviews after her trip to Mexico, she insist the same thing, criticizing both Spanish and Mexican governments. “The fault na my existence, for doing politics,” she talk melodramatic for May 12 interview on Cuatro. She always be victim of enemies’ machinations.
“Dem want control us,” she say. The essential point of that conspiracy na say somebody want control us. There be deliberate effort to get rid of leader, because e go make am easier to use Real Madrid or Community of Madrid (or Spain) for their own interests. “From tomorrow, I go try make dem no take our property. I go fight with all my strength,” Florentino shout. E mean say some people want turn club into public limited sports company and take control from members. But reality be say members no fit vote for president election for long time. E don be reelected without opposition since 2009 (for earlier term e hold office for six years). For Real Madrid electoral system, candidate must personally guarantee 15% of annual budget, which now mean over 180 million euros.
For her speech on May 2 celebration, Ayuso boast say “Madrid society na another army wey no go let anybody control am.” And if anybody try, “who try am go meet worthy and strong response,” like wetin happen for 1808. “Madrid na refuge of freedom,” she talk often, linking am to her ability to oppose central government or Congress measures.
E normal for Real Madrid president to seek best for team, but beneficiaries appear to be many more. “Everything we achieve no be for Real Madrid, na for good of football,” Florentino Pérez talk. Dem suppose thank am for generosity. Na wetin e defend when e present failed European Super League project. E boast say e want “children of Africa” fit watch football free. But nobody know how e go do am without taking same measure for adults, because children no be TV owners.
Ayuso always boast say Madrid dey do well under her government. People for rest of Spain also dey owe am. “Madrid dey serve all of Spain,” na one of her favorite phrases. She highlight say region na “economic lung of Spain” by contributing 19.8% of national GDP. One more strange phrase na “Madrid na Spain inside Spain,” so we suppose deduce say e dey higher level than other communities: “Treat Madrid like other communities na very unfair for my opinion.” She say she despise wetin she call “small-town identities.”
Florentino press conference na constant attack on media wey dare criticize am. That include media wey always celebrate team victories. “Real Madrid members dey rule, not journalists.” But true na e dey rule. E directly attack ABC newspaper, say e go cancel subscription. His obsession with media don dey known for years, as well as ability to get journalists sacked wey question am. David Jiménez, former El Mundo director, talk say e witness how Florentino demand head of Óscar Campillo, Marca director, and dem give am. “I be used to am. After 11 days as director of Marca,” Campillo explain, “Florentino demand head of Santi Segurola and Roberto Palomar and Roberto Gómez.”
For these matters, Ayuso get Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, her personal Doberman. The chief of staff dey set agenda for favorable media, sometimes with fake news like e do for González Amador investigation, and threaten rebels, like e do with this newspaper with phrases “we go crush you” and “you go close.” The Madrid president dey very demanding with journalists wey no follow her style exactly. “The lukewarm uncomfortable, wey plenty for talk shows, fit continue look away while e confuse moderation with cowardice, which be wetin dey happen,” she talk for 2025. Media wey no challenge am – and wey praise even her wardrobe – dey get reward in form of institutional advertising, sometimes far above wetin dem fit get by audience.
Both Florentino and Ayuso prefer interviews wey be like massage. For Real Madrid president, if possible, none. The last one e give na four years ago, and last press conference for 2015. The day after press conference, e go La Sexta for interview with Josep Pedrerol with predictable result. Ayuso after Mexico trip go COPE, Telemadrid and Cuatro. For that channel, Nacho Abad let her talk plenty without daring to contradict, and e think say na good idea to end interview with comment: “I see you thinner.” E think na missing praise.
Those wey know am, and wey until now prefer talk low voice, know say Florentino think e dey above law. E pressurize city council to accept reclassification of old sports complex for 2001, stepping over those wey disagree. “Álvarez del Manzano tell me say the operation na absolutely illegal and only go happen over his dead body,” José María García talk years later. José María Aznar remind then mayor of Madrid say his dead body no be so important. Ayuso think she fit travel to Mexico, criticize government, and President Claudia Sheinbaum no get right to reply. Even e shock am. She claim Mexico na “narcodictatorship” wey suppose celebrate Hernán Cortés deeds, and then e surprise say Sheinbaum get different idea about history of her country. “Every morning she dey defame me,” Ayuso talk, despite Sheinbaum say Ayuso get right to travel and give opinion. She claim without proof say Mexican government boycott her visit and go further: “Mexican and Spanish governments put me and my team in danger.” Moncloa reply say “she never communicate any incident and no ask for protection.” Criticizing others, sometimes without basis, and no accept slightest criticism be part of her style. If you do am, she fit accuse you of endangering her life.
Florentino condescending comments about women journalists put am for special category. His mumbles and incoherent comments confirm say at 79 e no be wetin e be before, though e still get wetin never leave am: authoritarianism and patrimonial view of power. E no be something e go ever share. “Na elite culture,” Máriam Martínez Bascuñán write. Powerful men confusing authority with impunity. Paternalism, classism, racism and contempt for press no be slip. Na normal way of exercising power.
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