Di president wey dey do di work for Real Madrid, Florentino Pérez, don yarn im mind for exclusive interview with Televisión Española. Na im first interview since im present im candidacy.
For di interview, Pérez yarn say im rival for di election, Enrique Riquelme, dey want become president because im need di club for im company. Pérez say, ‘No want to dey boast, but my company worth pass Real Madrid, while dis man im company, I no know wetin e worth. But e give feeling say Riquelme come because e need di club for im company.’
Péréz also raise doubt about di 194 million euros guarantee wey Riquelme get from Andbank to contest. ‘I no know wetin Bloomberg dey report, wey say dis man borrow money at 50% interest per year. How person go borrow at 54% per year? A person wey dey borrow like dat, e hard to believe say e come to help Real Madrid. Instead, dem come so dat Real Madrid go help dem for dem companies. If not, e no make sense.’
Péréz add say no Spanish bank want give Riquelme guarantee to stand for election. ‘Di whole thing na orchestrated matter. I love Real Madrid well well, and when I see dem dey come for am, I dey here.’
Di president say im no need to call election, but im do am because im dey see ‘shadow movement’ wey want destabilize di club through im person. ‘I still believe say di club belong to di members, so I say make members choose.’ Im reject any public debate with Riquelme, saying ‘My history dey back me.’
Péréz link Riquelme candidacy to di era of former president Ramón Calderón, wey im call ‘di most sinister period for Real Madrid history.’ ‘At end of day, na di same people. When we see di candidacy, na di same people from 2008 during Calderón. Now dem bring family and friends, some wey dey dat candidacy before.’
Im recall say when im first term end for 2006, ‘everything dey orderly again,’ so im retire, ‘but for 2008, crisis come again from di same people,’ so im come back for 2009. ‘Now I see di same people dey come again, dem want destabilize di club. So I dey here again, ready to defend not my history as president, but di great history of Real Madrid.’
For di stadium matter, Pérez reply Riquelme accusation about Santiago Bernabéu renovation cost. ‘I no want yarn about di candidate, but di first thing im suppose know na how much di stadium cost.’ On di claim say im want privatize di club, Pérez say Real Madrid don suffer many attacks. ‘La Liga try to take our revenue and share among all clubs, something wey no dey normal. We stop am, but I realize say di only way to protect our property na to make di club value belong to all members.’
‘I don always fight, like Bernabéu, so dat di club property go be for members. Those wey dey talk dat thing, dem get strange plan, because I no need to take di club for myself.’
For sports side, Pérez express desire to renew Brazilian star Vinícius Júnior, wey im call ‘one of di best forwards for di world.’ Im say im never talk with Portuguese coach José Mourinho, wey fit return to Real Madrid if Pérez win election. ‘E be good coach, clearly, but I no go announce anything because I never talk with Mourinho.’
Di time dey run. ‘Di people know say I go always sign di best players for di world,’ Pérez yarn. But still no names or candidates for electoral program. Pérez no clear doubt about Mourinho as di chosen one for di bench: ‘I no go announce anything because I never talk with am.’ And one of im stars, Vinícius, contract dey finish next year: ‘I want am to stay for Real Madrid because e be one of di best players for di world,’ but di renewal still no sign. Enrique Riquelme no dey give names too, but for now, na duel without debate and without sports proposal.
