No room for self-indulgence at Real Madrid – Perez

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has told students graduating from the club’s affiliated university that “there’s no room for self-indulgence” at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Perez was speaking as 426 students from 49 countries received Masters degrees from the Real Madrid Graduate School-Universidad Europea in a ceremony attended by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who is to act as patron to the institution’s class of 2017.

The Madrid chief said in his speech that he hoped the students graduating in subjects such as sports law, sports management and marketing were going into the world having taken on the club’s “values” of “fair play,” “solidarity” and “never giving up.”

“The great driving force behind the legend that is Real Madrid is that there’s no room for self-indulgence here,” Perez said. “The demands at this club mean that we’re constantly having to work and innovate to remain top of the pile. Everything that we have achieved revolves around a spirit of always wanting to better ourselves as we strive for excellence in a spirit of fair play and solidarity.

“Values have been instilled in you at this school that I hope that you’ll take away with you. These values have enabled Real Madrid to become an institution that is universal, respected, loved and admired. Never will Real Madrid give up on its dreams and nor should you. Don’t ever forget that you’re a part of a club where the word ‘impossible’ doesn’t exist.”

Infantino said in his speech to the graduating class: “This is an unforgettable day for you and you’re now going on to a new chapter in your lives. What’s more, many chapters in the game’s history have been written here.

“This is a magical sport and one that represents a school for life. Through football you learn to win, lose, be a team player, respect others. Never give up or stop believing in yourselves. You’ll have to now work hard, be proud of yourselves and enjoy life.”

Perez, 70, began a fifth term as Madrid president earlier this summer after being the only candidate to put himself forward for the post, following controversial changes made to the club statutes in recent years which makes the emergence of any challengers unlikely.

The biggest issue around the club currently is the future of star Cristiano Ronaldo, who let it be known last month that he wanted to leave Spain due to upset and anger at being called to appear in a Madrid court on July 31 to answer to an alleged €14.7 million tax fraud.

Infantino was last week in Russia for the 2017 Confederations Cup, where he socialised with president Vladimir Putin and praised the World Cup 2018 hosts for a “perfect” tournament.

For the last 11 years, the Real Madrid Graduate School-Universidad Europea has been offering post-graduate programmes in areas including management and law, marketing and communications, and sports and health from its campuses in the Spanish capital.