Perez set to stand for Real presidency
Reuters - Monday 11 May 2009, 14:29
MADRID - Florentino Perez, the man who
brought Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and David Beckham to Real
Madrid, signalled on Monday that he is ready to make another bid
for the presidency of the Spanish club.
"Florentino Perez will make public his intention to stand in
the Real Madrid elections on Thursday," his office said in a
statement, confirming his plan to run after months of
speculation.
Perez resigned as Real president in 2006 after a six-year
spell that saw him sign a handful of the world's most famous,
and most expensive, players.
After doing a deal to sign Luis Figo during his election
campaign in 2000, Perez added Zidane, Ronaldo, Beckham and
Michael Owen to a squad that already featured Raul and Roberto
Carlos.
Under Perez, Real won Champions League in 2002 but with the
team becoming so top heavy the project ultimately collapsed and
Perez walked away as the club headed towards a third successive
trophy-less season.
Spanish media have linked a Perez candidacy with moves for
Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Cesc Fabregas and Xabi Alonso. Spanish
media have suggested Arsene Wenger and Carlo Ancelotti as
favoured choices for the coach's role.
Real, who are almost certain to lose their league crown to
Barcelona this season, have been trapped in institutional limbo
since former president Ramon Calderon was forced out in a
vote-rigging scandal in January.
They are being run by interim president Vicente Boluda until
elections on June 14.
Perez, who runs one of Europe's largest construction
conglomerates ACS, will officially announce his candidacy at the Ritz hotel in Madrid.