Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has promised a club-record transfer bid of around €150 million for an unnamed marquee midfielder if he is re-elected on Sunday.
The 79-year-old incumbent faces a challenge from renewable energy magnate Enrique Riquelme in the first contested presidential election for the member-owned Spanish club in 20 years.
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Nearly 100,000 club members will vote following a trophyless 2025-26 season that left Real Madrid eight points behind La Liga champions Barcelona.
Perez revealed his transfer strategy during an appearance on Spanish television, stating he intends to secure a world-class talent from a major European club outside the English Premier League.
“On Tuesday or so, I'm going to make an offer to a major Champions League club for a great player,” Perez told the show Horizonte.
“It would be the largest transfer fee Real Madrid has ever paid in its history.”
The president clarified the target is an attacking midfielder, ruling out moves for Manchester City duo Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku, as well as Bayern Munich's Michel Olise.
“Olise is a great player but it's not Olise,” Perez said. “It's not Doku either.”
The announcement counters a campaign pledge by challenger Riquelme, who promised to sign Haaland, prompting Manchester City to deny transfer possibilities and threaten legal action.
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“We're going to make a significant offer, at least around €150m,” Perez said. “He needs to be a player from midfield who can go forward.
And it's not Haaland.”
Perez previously established the famous 'Galacticos' policy during his first term from 2000 to 2006, signing David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, and Luis Figo before resigning amid poor results.
“The player is not from the Premier League,” Perez added. “And the first thing we'll do is talk to the club.
It's a signing meant to generate excitement because that's what it's all about, generating excitement.”
Perez returned unopposed in 2009 for a 17-year second term.
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Victory on Sunday would also finalize agreements for manager Jose Mourinho, Inter Milan defender Denzel Dumfries, and defender Ibrahima Konate.
