Real Madrid President Perez denies ultimatum from players over Mourinho

 　　MADRID, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid President Florentino Perez this Thursday called a press conference to deny stories written about the club in the Spanish press.

　　Perez reacted to a front page headline story printed in Spanish sports paper, 'Marca', which stated he has met with goalkeeper Iker Casillas and defender¹ Sergio Ramos in the offices of his construction company ACS on Tuesday and that the pair said that unless coach Jose Mourinho left the club at the end of the season, they would ask for transfers.

　　The story has stunned² Spain and Perez acted quickly to try and at a press conference held in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium he rejected Marca's claims.

　　"It is totally false that in the meeting that the two captains, gave anything like an ultimatum," said Perez.

　　"What has happened is so serious that I am breaking my rule of not speaking. We had a fine meeting and what has been written is not true," said Perez who asked for at the club.

　　"I am denying false information which has the objective of destabilizing the most prestigious³ institution in the world," he concluded.

　　Whether or not Real Madrid is the 'most prestigious institution in the world,' may be open to debate, but it is the football club which earned the most money in 2012 according to the 'Football Money League,' elaborated by the bank Deloitte's.

　　Real Madrid earned 513,6 million Euros (686 million US dollars) in the 2011-12 season according to Deloitte's more than FC Barcelona, who were the second highest earners on 483 million Euros (646.7 million US dollars) and Manchester United, who earned 527 million U.S. dollars from marketing⁴, TV and prize and gate money.

　　However, the report also highlights the inequality in the Spanish game due to the uneven⁵ distribution of TV rights while there are seven sides from the English Premier⁶ League in the Top- 20 earners, Real Madrid and Barca are Spain's only representatives, although Valencia are in 21st place. Enditem

1 defender   

n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人

参考例句：

• He shouldered off a defender and shot at goal.他用肩膀挡开防守队员，然后射门。
• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。

2 stunned   

adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The fall stunned me for a moment. 那一下摔得我昏迷了片刻。
• The leaders of the Kopper Company were then stunned speechless. 科伯公司的领导们当时被惊得目瞪口呆。

3 prestigious   

adj.有威望的，有声望的，受尊敬的

参考例句：

• The young man graduated from a prestigious university.这个年轻人毕业于一所名牌大学。
• You may even join a prestigious magazine as a contributing editor.甚至可能会加入一个知名杂志做编辑。

4 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

5 uneven   

adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的

参考例句：

• The sidewalk is very uneven—be careful where you walk.这人行道凹凸不平—走路时请小心。
• The country was noted for its uneven distribution of land resources.这个国家以土地资源分布不均匀出名。

6 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。