Real Madrid
For a moment, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez appeared to have been badly burnt by the Super League project. He, after all, was its president and most public face, the only person speaking
– and speaking too much.
Not only that, but his appearance on El Chiringuito and then on Cadena Ser radio offered a very unflattering picture of him, a man seemingly out of touch, unconvincing, rambling, contradictory and defeated, the paranoid old man at the head of a project that looked poorly planned and executed.
Not just that, but the lasting message left by his appearance could be reduced to the enormity of the economic crisis his club faced. That was a portrait that surprised onlookers in Spain, as Perez is incredibly powerful and even those who dislike and fear him would regard him as a highly competent administrator.
Over the next few days, though, that power was brought to bear and he was rehabilitated, media and opinion swinging in behind him – in Spain at least. At least he had fronted the project while others hid, it was said. At least he led, and held his ground, while others deserted. And as Perez dug in, a new narrative emerged in which Madrid were cast almost as freedom fighters against UEFA, now portrayed as some dark, shadowy and vengeful cabal. Meanwhile, the clubs that left were repackaged as traitors, Perez hitting out at them too.
He knows that the project is dead, but clings to it, seeking legal action and financial retributions from his erstwhile partners. He knows he can’t win this particular fight, but there will be more, and his personal reputation is once again intact domestically.