Florentino Pérez is portrayed as a skilled strategist. Last Tuesday, a highly significant meeting appeared on his schedule, intertwined with a long-standing association with his well-known ally, the honorary king Juan Carlos I. In this moment, the Real Madrid president faced a figure who could shape his future. The ambition to free English football from a closed European model was linked to billionaire Todd Boehly.
The American executive already understands the dynamics of exclusive leagues, given his involvement with major American clubs, including ownership stakes in the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Lakers. Therefore, Florentino’s original concept for a European Super League is not foreign to him.
Lifeguard for Chelsea
Boellersque term refers to Boehly’s precarious situation. It has been less than a year since Chelsea’s reported 5 billion euro acquisition from Roman Abramovich, with more than 600 million euros already invested in transfers. That even large spending has not yet yielded a proportional return, and Chelsea now finds itself outside European competition after a season stripped of Champions League revenue, drawing sharp commentary from club legends such as Didier Drogba, who lamented perceived declines in the club’s ethos.
Chelsea, once among the six English clubs that helped found the Super League, subsequently withdrew under pressure from supporters and UEFA. In the months that followed, Premier League clubs issued ten directives restricting participation in any new formats beyond Premier League rules.
Real Madrid ally
From a Super League perspective, this stance appears tied to UEFA’s monopoly over the Champions League. If the institution’s authority were challenged, English clubs might reconsider their position at the negotiating table with the Super League. Against this backdrop, the Chelsea versus Madrid match in London served as a practical setting to observe Boehly and gauge his project’s trajectory, particularly in terms of alternative avenues for entry.
Media attention was subtly redirected by the presence of the honorary king at Stamford Bridge, Juan Carlos I. The sighting was handled discreetly by both clubs and Florentino from the outset. Eventually, word leaked, drawing media focus to the Bourbon monarch’s arrival at the historic stadium in the Fulham area.
Conversation between Florentino and Boehly
According to EL PERIÓDICO DE ESPAÑA from the Prensa Ibérica group, discussions between Boehly and Florentino touched on the current state of the Super League without delving into overly technical details. The Madrid president views Chelsea’s owner as a potential ally, especially given challenges facing Barcelona and Juventus amid the Negreira case and related scrutiny that could affect their European participation.
Ceferin’s focus on these controversies was noted, with remarks implying Madrid’s involvement in contentious financial matters and governance questions.
Chelsea’s owner reportedly seeks a financial path forward by reducing player salaries and managing new signings within a framework that considers Champions League qualification. The club is currently outside the Champions League this season, and the outcome of further decisions remains to be seen.
British media, including journalists from The Times, have suggested that the Super League could be a viable option if Chelsea’s finances and sporting fortunes improve. As a result, Florentino may have set an impressionable hook, potentially attracting a significant beneficiary to the broader strategy.