Madrid’s derby carried its usual weight on the pitch at the Metropolitano, where Atlético beat Real Madrid 2-1, but the afternoon was also marked by an uncomfortable episode away from the players and coaches.
Florentino Pérez, Real Madrid’s president, was said to have reacted angrily before kick-off after learning that Enrique Riquelme had been invited into Atlético’s presidential area. Riquelme previously stood as a candidate for the Real Madrid presidency, and his presence at the stadium’s directors’ enclosure reportedly caused particular irritation for Pérez.
The issue emerged during the pre-match meal for club officials in the antebox. Pérez was informed that Riquelme had been invited to the presidential box and initially threatened to leave the stadium, saying he did not want to encounter him. Those around the Real Madrid president reportedly persuaded him to remain for the match, though he continued to question why Riquelme had been given access to the area.
It made for a sour off-field counterpoint to Atlético’s 2-1 win. The argument also underlined how quickly a former challenger can become more prominent when the club’s most powerful figure publicly appears unsettled by his presence. The suggestion was that Pérez’s visible fixation could inadvertently strengthen Riquelme’s standing should he seek the presidency again.
