Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez publicly endorsed José Mourinho as a potential coaching candidate, praising the Portuguese manager for elevating the club's competitiveness during his previous tenure. Pérez highlighted Mourinho's role in winning six European Cups across ten years, positioning him as a leading contender to replace interim coach Álvaro Arbeloa.

The endorsement comes after Pérez's controversial press conference where he accused media of orchestrating a campaign against him and announced presidential elections. Pérez acknowledged the difficult season marked by 28 injuries and lack of proper pre-season preparation due to the Club World Cup, resulting in Madrid's second consecutive trophyless campaign.

Despite the struggles, Pérez promised significant summer signings, referencing his history of acquiring world-class talent like Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane. He defended Kylian Mbappé as the team's best player and downplayed urgency around Vinícius Júnior's contract extension, which expires in 2027.

The electoral process faces challenges from Madrid member Enrique Riquelme, who called for extended campaigning time to ensure proper member participation in choosing the club's leadership direction.