Real Madrid president Florentino Perez made headlines this week during a press conference at Valdebebas, where he addressed a wide range of topics—the team’s season, refereeing controversies, his re-election plans, and an unexpected subject: a now-defunct media outlet.
He singled out Relevo, a digital sports news platform launched in October 2022 by Spanish media group Vocento. The outlet was built to appeal to a younger generation consuming football content on TikTok rather than traditional newspapers. Led by veteran Marca journalist Óscar Campillo, Relevo once employed nearly 80 reporters and even surpassed older media brands in social media engagement at its peak. However, persistent financial losses forced Vocento to shut it down in May 2025.
Months after its closure, Perez brought Relevo back into the spotlight, claiming it was part of a coordinated campaign against Real Madrid. “This was an organized movement, very carefully orchestrated. ABC belongs to the Vocento group, which created Relevo. That digital media lost 25 million euros, funded by La Liga and other sources. When La Liga stopped financing, it turned to Telefónica and later Telecinco. Its sole purpose was to go after Real Madrid,” he stated.
The press conference also included a surprise announcement: “We are preparing a significant document that will be sent immediately to UEFA, asking them to address issues like the Negreira case from the root to protect world football.”
Regarding the current season, Perez admitted disappointment but showed no sign of stepping down. “Sometimes I feel as frustrated as you do, because we won nothing this year. But I am the one who wants to win everything the most. During my presidency, we have won 66 trophies in football and basketball.”
When asked about his future at the club, he was brief and clear: “Unfortunately, I will not resign.”
