FIFA president Gianni Infantino appears to have picked his horse in the Real Madrid presidential elections, with a social media post praising Florentino Pérez.
Pérez attended the Champions League final in Budapest as a guest of FIFA at the end of last month, during which he is reported to have met with Infantino to discuss the future of football—after which the sport’s top administrator spoke in glowing terms of the incumbent Real Madrid president.
Pérez is currently campaigning to be re-instated as Real Madrid president, having called surprise elections ahead of schedule during a press conference on May 12. With the polling set for June 7, Pérez faces a challenger for the presidency for the first time in over 20 years, with 37-year-old renewable energy CEO Enrique Riquelme the other candidate.
Both men are in full campaign mode as they look to secure votes from Real Madrid’s 100,000-strong socio base ahead of polling day.
Riquelme has made a number of bold promises regarding signings and manager choice, as well as naming club legend Raúl González as his would-be sporting director. Pérez—whose campaign slogan is “much more history to make”—has been less detailed in his pledges.
The 79-year-old incumbent, who has overseen seven Champions League wins during his presidency, has had a number of high-profile endorsements from past greats including from Karim Benzema, Luka Modrić, Casemiro, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo Nazario—the latter taking the microphone to proclaim: “President, you are the best and always will be the best!” at Pérez’s campaign launch.
Infantino: Real Madrid Will ‘Continue to Shine’ With Pérez
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