Florentino Perez backs under-pressure Rafa Benitez

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez last night offered his backing to under-pressure coach Rafa Benitez, while stating reports he was considering selling out-of-form galactico Cristiano Ronaldo were “lies”.

Perez was speaking at a specially called press conference to plead for “unity” around the club, in the wake of Saturday’s embarrassing 0-4 La Liga Clasico defeat at home to Barcelona.

During that game an angry Estadio Santiago Bernabeu crowd carried out a traditional ‘white hankie’ protest calling for Perez to resign, and Ronaldo was loudly whistled by his own team’s supporters.