Following a chaotic season, Pérez announced fresh elections at a hastily arranged press conference. During the 64-minute event—marked by repeated verbal sparring with individual journalists—the 79-year-old denounced a "smear campaign" against him and a "conspiracy" by the media.
Los Blancos have now gone two campaigns without silverware for the first time since 2009/10.
The property developer first led Real Madrid between 2000 and 2006, returned unopposed in 2009, and has since been re-elected for four-year terms in 2013, 2017, 2021 and 2025.