Perez denies reports of Real rift

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has denied reports of a rift between members of the playing squad and head coach Jose Mourinho.

Marca, a Madrid-based newspaper traditionally sympathetic to the club, suggested on Thursday that members of the squad, led by Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos, had told Perez to choose between Mourinho and the players during a meeting on Tuesday.

“I break my rule not to speak to the press about the club’s day-by-day business due to the seriousness of the allegations published by Marca,” Perez told a press conference.

“I’m not here to talk about Iker, only to deny the information that has come out this morning. I haven’t spoken to Mourinho, I came here of my own accord. They (the newspaper) cannot play with an institution like Real Madrid.

“It is absolutely false that the captains said anything negative about the coach. No ultimatum was issued by Casillas or Ramos. The level of responsibility of the captains is incompatible with this information.

“The information published today is a pure lie and it’s a serious attack against the club. I have a lot of respect for the press and I always listen to criticism, regardless of whether I think it’s fair or not.

“But there are limits that must be respected. This is a serious matter. It is not a typical daily rumour, on who we sign or who we dismiss, it’s about ethics.”

Mourinho already voiced his dismay with the way he has been treated in the press earlier this week, claiming the media are trying to create controversies that do not exist.

Despite Perez’s denial, Marca have stood by their story.