Former presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme addresses Real Madrid refereeing complaints and Florentino Perez tension

Former presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme addresses Real Madrid refereeing complaints and Florentino Perez tension Former Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme has addressed the controversy surrounding his appearance at Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano during Real Madrid’s derby defeat. It must be remembered that Riquelme’s presence at the stadium reportedly created tension because of his history as a challenger to Florentino Perez in the club’s presidential race.  The Spanish businessman, though, played down the significance of the episode and insisted that the presidential election is now in the past.  His message was that fans and members of the club should remain united behind the team. “I didn’t hear about the story until later, from the press. I mean, I was there – I was invited to go – and obviously, as a Real Madrid fan, and as I’ve said on several occasions, the elections are over, and now we all need to pull together. “The Real Madrid family, at this moment, must stand united, with no turmoil or unnecessary fuss. The Real Madrid family must stand united, and that’s certainly how I’ll be acting,” he told COPE . Riquelme wants Real Madrid united after presidential race Riquelme’s comments were consistent with his position that the election campaign should not divide the club. Enrique Riquelme addressed potential tension with Florentino Perez. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) He also reflected on his previous proposals for Real Madrid , including his interest in players such as Erling Haaland and Rodri.  Both players subsequently enjoyed major success with their national team at the World Cup, something Riquelme pointed to when discussing his earlier plans. Asked about people who miss the possibility of having Haaland and Rodri at Real Madrid, he responded: “Well, as I said, the elections are over. My proposals were clear, they were out in the open, and they’ve had – as we anticipated – a brilliant World Cup.  “So now, I wish the Real Madrid players the best of luck and hope they bring us some trophies this year.” Riquelme addresses Real Madrid’s refereeing complaints The former presidential candidate was also asked about Real Madrid’s complaints surrounding refereeing decisions, particularly after the controversial derby defeat to Atletico Madrid. Riquelme pointed to the subjective nature of football and the difficulty of achieving complete agreement over contentious decisions. Enrique Riquelme wants unity at Real Madrid. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) “The beauty of football is that, even for different teams, the same play can lead to completely divergent opinions, and both sides are convinced they’re right. “Going back to the campaign, I think what happened with Barcelona and the referees at the time was a disaster, and I believe this is now more of a day-to-day occurrence.  “VAR is providing partial solutions and will surely continue to improve so that these controversies become less frequent,” he explained. Riquelme is completely behind Real Madrid Despite having challenged Perez during the presidential process, Riquelme made clear that his support for Real Madrid has not changed. He intends to continue attending matches and supporting the team regardless of whether he is in Spain or travelling abroad. “I hope, I’m confident, I hope, and I’ll be there to cheer them on at most of the matches, whether I’m in Spain or abroad; of course, I’ll go to support them just like any other member,” he concluded.