María José Fuenteálamo, a journalist for ABC, has responded to Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez after he publicly questioned her knowledge of football during a historic press conference that has made global headlines.
During the press conference, Pérez referred to an opinion piece published by ABC titled “Real Madrid and the loser’s deafness,” saying: “Look at the two articles ABC published today against Madrid… One is written by a woman I don’t even know if she knows anything about football.”
Fuenteálamo quickly identified herself on social media, confirming that she was the journalist in question. She then published her own article with the headline: “I am that woman Florentino is talking about.”
“I never expected, as a non-sports journalist, that during a press conference about Real Madrid and its current situation, Florentino would mention—without naming me—me,” she wrote in ABC. “A woman, oh woman, who cares if she knows football? She does know the damage that comes out of the Bernabéu beyond what happens inside. Because this is not about football. And now I am the one doubting whether you know that or not.”
Fuenteálamo, surprised by the attention, recounted how her phone started buzzing with friends sending messages about Pérez’s remarks. She noted that as a reporter covering politics and corruption, she is used to politicians taking jabs, but being singled out by the president of Real Madrid for simply expressing an opinion was unexpected. “Yes, esteemed president, all of that is me. A woman—oh, a woman—does it really matter what I know about football?” she concluded.