What happened: Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez publicly defended the club, citing its record number of titles, Forbes valuation as the world's most valuable club, and Transfermarkt's highest-rated squad. He questioned why some media outlets continue to criticise the club despite those metrics. The remarks came during a wider address in which Pérez also called club elections.

Why it matters: The defensive posture lands while Real Madrid navigate a turbulent stretch that included a dressing-room fight between Tchouaméni and Valverde and Pérez's own call for elections against what he framed as a campaign targeting his presidency. Pérez's pivot to titles, brand value, and squad rating is a familiar institutional shield when sporting results and internal discipline are under scrutiny. It signals the presidency intends to fight the narrative on legacy and balance-sheet terms rather than on-pitch form.

What to watch: Watch for follow-up from Pérez on the manager search and the election timeline he floated, plus any club response to ongoing internal-discipline coverage. Media reaction across Spanish outlets will indicate whether the titles-and-valuation framing lands or deepens the criticism cycle.