Real Madrid's internal disputes

Sergio Ramos is not the only key player that Florentino is in dispute with at Real Madrid. He is also at loggerheads with club captain, Iker Casillas, and Cristiano, the leading player at the club.

The situation with Iker

The ongoing situation with Iker has been well documented. There have been times when the president doubted Casillas' ability (and indeed even tried to sign Buffon on a number of occasions). The goalkeeper himself has felt a lack of protection from the club after Mourinho singled him out for revealing private dressing room matters publicly. No-one from the board has come out to publicly defend him (in the way that Bale has been constantly defended by Florentino, as was the case with the March 12 press conference). Now both sides are involved in a chess game surrounding the future of the player from Mostoles. It's clear that Madrid see David De Gea as their future goalkeeper and still, the club has been filtering stories about how they wish to retain Iker's services (he has a contract that runs through to 2017) and how he will be the third choice goalkeeper. A possible tactic to force the captain out of the club and at the same time save a sum of €14.5 millions which would be his pay-off: Casillas would be set to earn €7.5 million next season and €7 for the 2016-17 season). Iker has decided to stay firm. He's stated that he's going nowhere and if the club wants him out, then they have to pay the remaining two years remaining on his contract. Whilst both sides look for a solution, Madrid has decided that using Casillas' image as part of their 2015-16 shirt campaign is a commercial proposition...

The conflict with Cristiano

The other open conflict at the club is between Florentino and Cristiano. The player from Madeira feels he has not had sufficient support from the club after the fall-out from his birthday party held on the day after Madrid lost 4-0 at the Calderon. Since that day he has imposed a media silence. He feels that his opinion wasn't taken into account regarding Ancelotti's future and is unhappy about club doctor, Jesús Olmo having his contract renewed when many of the squad oppose his injury recovery methods. He is also angry that his new position under Rafa Bentiez (playing as a traditional number '9') was communicated via the media instead of through official club sporting channels.