Florentino's Five Deadly Sins: Where Real Madrid's President Has Dropped a Clanger
From squad neglect to pampering stars, Florentino Pérez's missteps have left Real Madrid vulnerable as Copa del Rey elimination exposes deeper issues at the Bernabéu.
Real Madrid’s shock Copa del Rey exit to Albacete has sparked fierce debate about the club’s direction under Florentino Pérez, with critics identifying five critical errors from the president this season.
Transfer Market Blunders
The first sin highlighted by Radio MARCA’s panel is Pérez’s stubborn refusal to strengthen the squad with the midfielders and defenders requested by both Xabi Alonso (during discussions about potentially taking the job) and Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian gaffer was reportedly desperate for defensive reinforcements, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. Absolute dog’s dinner, that.
The Vinicius Problem
Pérez’s second major error involves handing too much power to Vinicius Jr. The Brazilian’s Ballon d’Or ceremony boycott and protracted contract negotiations have created unnecessary drama. As one panelist put it, the way Vinicius is handling his renewal talks is “not tolerable” for a club of Madrid’s stature.
Spoilt Stars
The president has apparently “spoiled” several key players, transforming potential superstars into merely “little stars” (estrellitas). The panel specifically named Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo as players who’ve been overly indulged, creating a culture of entitlement within the dressing room.
Lack of Disciplinary Backbone
The fourth criticism centers on Pérez’s failure to back Xabi Alonso (when he was being considered for the role) regarding the Vinicius situation. The panel referenced El Clásico incidents where Vinicius deserved sanctioning, but Pérez “washed his hands” of the matter instead of enforcing discipline.
No Sporting Director
Finally, at 78 years old with numerous responsibilities including corporate restructuring, stadium naming rights, and contract renewals, Pérez’s fatal flaw is not appointing a proper sporting director. The panel argued Madrid desperately needs someone like Barcelona’s Deco or Atlético’s Mateu Alemany – a football mind who can serve as the president’s eyes and ears in the dressing room, handling day-to-day footballing matters.
With these five sins accumulating, the Bernabéu outfit might be in for a proper mare if changes aren’t made sharpish.