Florentino Perez is reported to have said calls from Real Madrid fans for his resignation have the opposite effect.
Perez was barracked during Madrid’s derby defeat against Atletico Madrid with reports that sections of the crowd chanted for his departure.
AS reports Perez telling a group of club members in advance of the Madrid Assembly that he has no intention of giving in to his critics.
“The more you ask for my resignation, the more desire I have to continue,” the President is quoted as saying.
“I will stay for as long as you want me here. What motivates me more to stay are those who want to take over the club and intimidate me.”
Perez also touched on the negative reactions towards Karim Benzema and Iker Casillas, who have at times been jeered by unhappy supporters.
“After three months of being booed here, Zinidine Zidane came to tell me he was retiring from football,” Perez recalled.
“You have to have faith in the players.”
Perez also re-iterated his intention to expel the club’s ultras from the South Stand and confirmed the desire to sell naming rights for the stadium.
“The best way to remove violent fans was to move them away from the area where they were staying,” he said.
“I have received no complaints [about the re-organisation of fans as a result].
“Without a sponsor its impossible to do any work on the stadium. We want one that pays as much as possible, while respecting the word Bernabeu.
“Construction will begin at the earliest next summer.”
On the death of Alfredo Di Stefano and the possibility of naming a new honorary President, Perez said there has been no movement in that direction.
“Di Stefano left a very deep emptiness and we are still shocked by his loss,” Perez lamented.
“We are aware of Paco Gento [a suggestion as honorary President] but we’re not working towards anything.”
