Real Madrid president Florentino Perez finds himself at a crossroads, facing one of the most challenging periods of his tenure. The club is in full-blown crisis, having gone two consecutive seasons without a major trophy, which has exhausted the patience of fans. The discontent is fueled by the lackluster attitude of star players, particularly Kylian Mbappe. Recent incidents, including a conflict between Alvaro Carreras and Antonio Rudiger, as well as a heated exchange between Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde in the dressing room, have put Valdebebas training ground on high alert. With coach Alvaro Arbeloa’s days numbered, Jose Mourinho could return to the bench in the coming weeks.
This scenario mirrors the situation in 2006, when Perez resigned on February 27 after three seasons without a major title. Back then, the ‘Galacticos’ project—featuring stars like Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, and David Beckham—led to his resignation. Ramon Calderon won the subsequent election, but Barcelona’s rise under Pep Guardiola and irregularities during his presidency eventually paved the way for Perez’s return at the end of the 2008/09 season. “The players are confused, perhaps too pampered. I made a mistake. I spoiled them,” Perez said at the time. Now, history appears to be repeating itself, with the club president potentially stepping down two decades later under similar circumstances.