Perez sees Madrid-itis spreading far and wide
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, hoping for another term, said what the club has achieved under his stewardship is just the start and insisted that 'Madrid-itis' will spread far and wide.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, hoping for another term, said what the club has achieved under his stewardship is just the start and insisted that 'Madrid-itis' will spread far and wide.
Perez has all but achieved his sworn aim of turning Real into the biggest club in the world having added Asian marketing magnet David Beckham to the ranks for this season but thinks the club can still target even higher aspirations.
"Nothing excites me more than being president of Real Madrid," Perez told Cadena Ser radio on Friday.
"These three years have really been worth it and I have to thank club members for gving me the chance to fulfil my dream of being president. My dream is for every continent to vibrate with Real Madrid."
"I expect to present myself for re-election in May if I can dedicate sufficient time to Madrid. I will do everything possible to find that time," added Perez.
Perez said despite bringing in a shoal of top stars such as Beckham, Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane he recognised the efforts of the more unsung players such as Michel Salgado and stressed the importance of a strong youth policy, a strategy he noted the likes of Ajax and Manchester United were pursuing.
Perez and coach Carlos Queiroz have promised to do something about Real's primary weakness - a suspect defence - by recruiting during the winter transfer window.
But Perez said the philisophy of the club made it difficult to find the right person, perhaps unsurprising when current defenders include Brazilian wing back Roberto Carlos, happy to spend at least as much time in his opponents' half as in his own.
"There are people who say Real lack a little balance. They say we haven't got a defence. But being a defender in Madrid is very complicated. Madrid play attacking (football) not defensively."
"I think we have a spectacular defence - they are all internationals. We have a great team and we don't have to be obsessed about lack of balance."
For Perez, the whole Real project is in its early stages.
"The project has just begun. We are very excited. In Spain and beyond there is Madrid-itis. The fans are happy."