Florentino Perez makes Real Madrid’s position clear during Ceuta visit: ‘Hope things return to normal’

Florentino Perez makes Real Madrid’s position clear during Ceuta visit: ‘Hope things return to normal’ Florentino Perez travelled to Ceuta on Friday alongside Real Madrid honorary president Jose Martinez ‘Pirri’ and director of institutional relations Emilio Butragueno, with the club’s leadership visiting the city for an event away from football. The visit comes days after Real Madrid players joined Elche in displaying shirts carrying the message “Todos somos caballas” before their La Liga meeting, in an expression of solidarity with Ceuta. Perez, Butragueno and Pirri were received at Ceuta’s town hall by mayor Juan Jesus Vivas, who used his address to explain the significance he attached to the visit. Vivas welcomes Real Madrid delegation to Ceuta Vivas thanked Perez and the Real Madrid delegation for travelling to the city, describing the occasion as an important moment for Ceuta and stressing that the club had arrived for a purpose beyond football. “This is undoubtedly a historic moment for Ceuta.  “We are being visited by the very top leadership of Real Madrid, a club of immense stature, and they are doing so for a reason that I believe will go down in history, because they have not come here to play a football match but for something far more important: to reaffirm their support for Ceuta and its people,” said the mayor. Vivas also addressed the political dimension of the visit, arguing that the position he was defending should not be viewed through an ideological lens. “This cause has no political overtones. What we are defending is not about ideologies. It is about defending our sovereignty and the cornerstone of our Constitution.  “It is a legitimate cause and it is Real Madrid’s cause,” said Vivas. Pirri delivers emotional message to hometown His remarks were followed by an address from Pirri, who was born in Ceuta and has maintained a personal connection with the city throughout his life. The former Real Madrid captain spoke about returning to his birthplace and said he was proud of his connection with Ceuta. Pirri also used the occasion to express his support for the people of the city. “First of all, I would like to thank Florentino Perez for joining me on such a special day. Thank you to the President of Ceuta and to my fellow townspeople. “I am delighted to be here in my homeland, with you, but at the same time I am very saddened by the situation the city finds itself in. I was born on Calle Jaúdenes, not far from here, and I am very proud to be a ‘caballa’.  “I feel deeply for what you are going through right now and I want to offer you my support during these very difficult times. Long live Ceuta and long live its people,” declared Pirri. Florentino Perez closes Real Madrid’s Ceuta visit The Real Madrid president used his closing address to explain that the event had been planned before the recent attention surrounding Ceuta. He also reiterated his support for the city’s population. Perez said, “It is an honour and a source of pride to be here alongside our honorary president.  “Pirri embodies all the values of Real Madrid. And I want to emphasise that, just so there’s no doubt, we’ve been preparing this event for some time now, not because of any recent news.  “I’d also like to take this opportunity to convey our full support and a warm embrace to all the people of Ceuta. I hope things return to normal as soon as possible. Thank you very much,” he concluded. Source: Mundo Deportivo