**Real Madrid President Florentino Perez Visits Ceuta, Clarifies Intentions**
*Ceuta, Spain - September 18, 2026* - Florentino Perez, the president of Real Madrid, made a visit to Ceuta city hall on Friday, where he expressed solidarity with the Spanish territory. His visit comes amid heightened attention to Ceuta due to recent events, but Perez emphasized that the trip was not a reaction to any current developments.
During his visit, Perez was accompanied by Jose Martinez Pirri, the honorary president of Real Madrid and a native of Ceuta. They were received by Juan Jesus Vivas, the regional president of Ceuta. In his remarks, Perez stated, “I want to emphasise, to avoid any doubts, that today’s event has been prepared over several weeks with the president of Ceuta, not due to any recent news.” He further conveyed his support and affection for the residents of Ceuta, expressing hope for a return to normalcy in the region.
The context of Perez's visit follows a significant increase in irregular crossings into Ceuta from Morocco, which has seen over 70,000 such incidents reported in July alone. This surge has led to disruptions in the territory, prompting various gestures of solidarity from different sectors within Spain, including Real Madrid.
The visit also comes on the heels of a controversial moment during a recent La Liga match against Elche, where players Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., and Ibrahima Konate obscured a message on T-shirts that read “We are all mackerels.” This phrase is a colloquial term used to refer to the people of Ceuta, and the shirts were intended to show support for the territory. Mbappe later clarified his stance, stating he did not want to prioritize the suffering of one group over another, highlighting the complexity of the situation.
Real Madrid has publicly supported Ceuta in the past, including a display during a Champions League match against Inter Milan, where a tifo was presented to show solidarity with the territory. Following the match, the club reiterated its respect for its players' individual decisions while maintaining its commitment to support Ceuta.
The visit by Perez is seen as part of a broader effort to engage with and support communities affected by recent challenges. As Real Madrid continues to navigate its role both in sports and social responsibility, Perez's visit to Ceuta underscores the club's connection to its wider community and its commitment to addressing pressing issues facing its regions.