Real Madrid president Florentino Perez visits Ceuta after shirt controversy

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has made a symbolic official visit to Ceuta in an attempt to ease tensions surrounding the city’s political and migration crisis.

Perez arrived in Ceuta on Friday morning, following a controversy that began on Tuesday evening after Real Madrid’s 3-2 victory over Elche. Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Ibrahima Konate were seen wearing shirts carrying a message of solidarity with the people of Ceuta, placing the club at the centre of an intense debate in Spain.

The visit came as efforts continue to calm the situation, which has escalated in recent days because of the dispute linked to the city.

Perez first flew to Gibraltar before travelling on to Ceuta by helicopter. About 100 people, including a number of Real Madrid supporters, gathered outside the town hall to greet him. Among them was a well-known fan who goes by the nickname “Dodo”.

The Real Madrid president was accompanied by two club greats: Jose Martinez Sanchez, better known as Pirri, and Emilio Butragueno.

Ceuta mayor Juan Jesus Vivas received Perez at the town hall. The president of Ceuta’s football club, who compete in Spain’s second division, was also present at the reception.

As he left shortly before 13:00, Perez said in French: “I came here in friendship for Pirri.”

Pirri was born in Ceuta in 1945, giving the visit a personal as well as symbolic significance.