Florentino Perez has pledged to pursue the most expensive transfer in Real Madrid's history within days of being re-elected club president — if voters back him on Sunday.

Speaking on Spanish television programme Horizonte, Perez said he intends to make an offer of around 150 million euros (£130m) for an unnamed attacking midfielder at a major Champions League club. He was emphatic that the target is not Bayern Munich's Harry Kane, Michel Olise, or Manchester City's Jeremy Doku.

"I have some news for you," Perez told viewers. "On Tuesday or so, I'm going to make an offer to a major Champions League club for a great player. It would be the largest transfer fee Real Madrid has ever paid in its history."

Perez was equally clear the mystery player does not come from the Premier League. He described the target as someone "from midfield who can go forward" — a signing designed, in his words, to "generate excitement."

Haaland ruled out

Perez also moved to distance himself from claims made by election rival Enrique Riquelme, who earlier this week pledged to sign Manchester City striker Erling Haaland. Perez stated flatly: "It's not Haaland." Manchester City have since declared there is "no chance" of such a transfer and are reportedly threatening legal action against Riquelme over the claim.

The election landscape

Real Madrid is a member-owned club, with roughly 100,000 members each paying an annual fee of around £130 entitled to vote. Sunday's election marks the first time in 20 years that Perez has faced genuine competition for the presidency.

His challenger, renewable energy magnate Riquelme, entered the race after Perez himself invited critics to stand against him at a news conference near the end of a disappointing 2025-26 season — one in which Real Madrid finished without a major trophy for the second consecutive year, trailing La Liga champions Barcelona by eight points.

Galacticos echoes

The promise of a blockbuster signing carries echoes of Perez's first presidential term, which began in 2000 and ushered in the famed Galacticos era — a period defined by the arrivals of Luis Figo, David Beckham, and Zinedine Zidane. Real Madrid won two La Liga titles and a Champions League during that spell before Perez resigned in 2006.

He returned to the presidency unopposed in 2009 and has held the role ever since across a further four uncontested elections.

Other deals on the table

Perez also reminded supporters that his re-election would unlock a set of already-agreed signings: manager Jose Mourinho, Inter Milan defender Denzel Dumfries, and Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate, whose contract at Anfield is not being renewed.