‘Jorge Mendes is Real’s President’

Ramon Calderon has launched an attack on Real Madrid President Florentino Perez, accusing him of placing the club in the hands of Jorge Mendes.

Portuguese agent Mendes represents Cristiano Ronaldo, who has caused consternation in the media this last fortnight for declaring his unhappiness at the club, and also a number of other figures at the club, including Coach Jose Mourinho.

“If a player is not happy then he can leave. It happened to me with Robinho, in a more dramatic case, but he was bought for €24m and sold for €48m, so it was a good operation,” former President of the club Calderon told Y!Eurosport today.

 “Jorge Mendes is now the club’s President, without being elected by its members. He has made the decisions, some players have come in because he is their representative.

“The club has been left in his hands and those of Mourinho and the President will know what he has done.

“Mourinho is a great Coach and motivator, but sometimes he behaves in a way that is regretted later. It is an issue that needs to be fixed with the Coach himself, but I find that difficult.”

Calderon also revealed that he has passed up the opportunity to sign Ricardo Kaka when in charge of the club.

“We tried to sign Kaka in the first year [of Calderon’s presidency] but could not. The second year we could do it, but the reports were not favourable for doing so, for various reasons.

“Florentino decided to sign him and now he has to solve the problem for the club. He is not viable because no teams are willing to sign him and pay his wage.”

The former President also didn’t hold back in criticising Perez over the handling of Raul Gonzalez’ exit from the club.

“What he did with Raul seemed cruel. Schalke showed us the way by retiring the No 7. Someday, someone will have to apologise for [Raul’s exit].

“For people like Raul and Iker Casillas, I never have a bad word, because they are players who value things above money.”

Tags Calderon Florentino Perez Jorge Mendes Kaka mourinho Raul Robinho Ronaldo
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