Florentino Pérez has been a cornerstone in shaping the modern football landscape and market dynamics. It’s now been 25 years since he first took over as Real Madrid president, a role he has held in two phases, the second beginning in 2009 and continuing to this day.

His first spell began with a bang. The signing of Luis Figo, Barcelona’s brightest star at the time, shook Spanish football to its core. It wasn’t just a transfer; it was a declaration of war, a message to the world that Real Madrid would go after the very best, no matter the cost or controversy.

Florentino’s approach was relentless. Year after year, he chased elite talent. Zidane came from Juventus, Ronaldo from Inter Milan, and Beckham from Manchester United. The Galáctico era was in full swing.

Yet, during his first presidency (2000–2006), Spanish players were mostly overlooked. There was, however, one major exception: Sergio Ramos. Signed from Sevilla, Ramos would go on to become a club legend and change Real Madrid’s history.

When Florentino returned in 2009, his vision evolved. Alongside global icons like Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká, and Benzema, he placed a renewed focus on domestic talent. That summer, Xabi Alonso, Raúl Albiol, Álvaro Arbeloa, Esteban Granero, and even Álvaro Negredo (briefly) were brought in. The strategy was clear—combine local strength with international flair.

In total, across both presidencies, Real Madrid has signed 30 Spanish players under Florentino’s leadership.

On the foreign front, one nation clearly dominates: Brazil. Thirteen Brazilians have arrived since Flavio Conceição, who cost 24 million euros (4 billion pesetas) but never truly impressed the president. Now, Endrick is the latest to join that long list of Brazilian imports.

In contrast, Argentina, the other South American football powerhouse, has had a much quieter presence. Franco Mastantuono, signed this summer, is only the third Argentine acquired under Florentino Pérez, following Walter Samuel in 2004 and Ángel Di María in 2010.

Under his leadership, Real Madrid has not only become a trophy-collecting machine, winning seven Champions League titles, but also a global sports empire. The club’s worldwide reach reflects the diversity of its signings, with players arriving from markets like Mexico (Chicharito) and Japan (Takefusa Kubo). Every continent has been represented—except Oceania.

And curiously, of all Europe’s big-name clubs, only Arsenal have never had a player join Real Madrid during Florentino Pérez’s era.

********************************************************

You can now download the Madridista News App for free on the Apple Store and Google Play.

You can follow us on Facebook here.

You can follow us on X (Twitter) here.                                                                    

You can follow us on Instagram here.

You can subscribe to our YouTube channel here.

You can follow us on Telegram here.

You can follow us on TikTok here.

You can join our WhatsApp channel here.