It’s been a rocky two months for Florentino Pérez.
The Super League scheme the Real Madrid president had engineered with hopes of revolutionizing European soccer blew up moments after takeoff.
Zinedine Zidane then said he was walking away, this time apparently for good, because the Madrid coach felt he had lost the support of his boss.
And now, Sergio Ramos, the flag bearer of one of the club’s most successful eras, is leaving even when he was willing to stay on the club’s terms.
All told, the future looks more than uncertain for Real Madrid — except for Pérez, solid as ever in his role as leader of the Spanish powerhouse.
Pérez, sharply dressed in suit and tie, gave no sign of wavering in his decision to let Ramos walk away as a free agent when they shared in his farewell event on Thursday. The only moment of awkwardness was when Ramos put his arm on Pérez’s shoulder for a photo and the president’s hands stayed at his sides.