Cañizares slams Florentino: 'Recent decisions don't reflect his best version'
Former Valencia goalkeeper Santi Cañizares offers brutally honest assessment of Florentino Pérez's recent management at Real Madrid following Super League collapse.
Former Spain international Santi Cañizares has delivered a proper two-footed tackle on Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, suggesting the big man’s recent decisions fall well short of his glory days at the Bernabéu.
Super League saga finally over
Cañizares, speaking on Radio MARCA’s ‘El Debate de La Pizarra’, expressed relief that the Super League saga has finally reached its conclusion. The former goalkeeper made it crystal clear he’s had enough of the boardroom drama, stating bluntly that a project with only one club pushing it forward was never going to get off the ground.
“A project where only one club is pushing it forward… what do you want me to say?” was his cutting assessment of Madrid’s increasingly isolated position after other clubs gradually withdrew their support.
UEFA criticism
While not exactly painting UEFA as saints, Cañizares acknowledged the reality of football’s power structure:
- Described UEFA as having “much authority and much arrogance”
- Warned about the difficulty of institutional battles
- Suggested that even the most decorated club in the world can’t fight alone
Florentino’s fading powers
The most fascinating part of Cañizares’s intervention was his assessment of Pérez’s current standing. While recognizing the president’s historical achievements, he didn’t pull any punches about the present:
- Acknowledged Pérez built his prestige through excellent management
- Noted that “time passes for everyone” - a bit of Adam and Eve there
- Suggested Florentino’s recent evolution as a manager hasn’t matched his earlier brilliance
Current challenges
Cañizares highlighted several specific issues facing Pérez:
- Confrontations with various football stakeholders
- Stadium renovation budget overruns
- Problems with concerts and parking at the new Bernabéu
- A squad lacking balance that “no longer dominates Europe”
Despite his criticisms, Cañizares ended on a positive note, suggesting this Super League withdrawal represents “a gesture of humility” from Florentino that could benefit Madrid if it signals a shift toward a more moderate approach rather than picking impossible fights without allies.