Real Madrid President Florentino Perez has told the club’s general assembly that everyone must come together to keep Los Blancos strong.
Perez fielded questions on a number of subjects and criticised his opponents, who are unhappy the club’s debt has reached a record level of €602m, AS report.
He also made his case for a remodelled Santiago Bernabeu, claimed Madrid are struggling to keep up financially with other clubs and expanded on the proposal to reduce the amount of youth football at the club, as well as do away with other sports.
“It’s a difficult time for Madrid to compete with other clubs were other owners have real economic empires,” Perez argued.
“Affectionately we say we cannot devote efforts to other sports.
“I didn’t say we’d do away with the cantera to make it better. I said we are studying to make it better.
“There are clubs with fewer players but better ones. It’s a project, a reflection.
“I don’t understand [critics such as Carlos Mendoza]. In life, one plays the role one wants to play.
“I don’t understand your role at Madrid. You’re giving ammunition to people who don’t like the club and who want to divide us.
“Other clubs raise the salaries of players and sometimes we can’t keep them and we let them go. If we hadn’t won the Champions League we would have had a profit of €70m. We have paid tens of millions in bonuses.
“I’m killing myself to make the best stadium. People want us to do it without debt or anything. The only way we can do it is with a sponsor. Those who can’t see it aren’t Madridistas.
“Iker Casillas deserves our respect. He’s the best goalkeeper in the history of the club. I don’t like the whistles.
“We must unite to protect each other. Our strength lies in unity.”
