Real Madrid President Florentino Perez called Cristiano Ronaldo an “imbecile” and Jose Mourinho “abnormal” while he also said the two had “huge egos” in two audio recordings from 2012 that were leaked yesterday.
Both Portuguese stars were at Madrid during Perez’s second tenure as club president. Audios of Perez attacking former players Iker Casillas and Raul Gonzalez as the “biggest frauds” in the club’s history in an audio recording from 2006 had been leaked 24 hours earlier.
“He is mad,” Perez had said of Ronaldo in one of the audios released by El Confidencial. “This chap is an imbecile, he is ill.
“Do you think this chap is normal? He is not normal, otherwise he wouldn’t do the things he does. The last foolish thing he did, everyone around the world saw it.
“Why do you think he does that foolish thing?”
It is unclear what Perez was referring to regarding the “foolish thing.” ESPN has approached Ronaldo’s representatives for comment.
Perez also attacked super agent Jorge Mendes, who represents Mourinho and Ronaldo.
“Mendes does not order him, nor does he order Mourinho whatsoever,” Perez said. “Zero. Not even for the interviews. These are guys with huge egos, both of them spoiled.
“He and the coach don’t see the reality because the two could earn a lot more money if they were different. They are both abnormal because we are talking about a lot of money in image rights.
“Furthermore, with that face they have, with that defiant manner that they are disliked by everyone… Advertising is the opposite, it is the complete opposite.”
Madrid released a statement on Tuesday on behalf of Perez in which he claimed the audio with comments on Casillas and Raul was leaked because of his involvement in promoting the recently failed European Super League. The statement also said the club was considering legal action.
Ronaldo, Madrid’s all-time top scorer with 450 goals, joined the Spanish giants in June 2009, 11 days after Perez returned as Real Madrid president.
Mourinho, now in charge of AS Roma, guided Madrid to the La Liga title, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa Espana from 2010 until 2013 before returning to coach Chelsea.
Ronaldo left Madrid for Juventus in 2018 after a nine-year spell at Los Blancos following a reported rift with Perez over a new contract.