Real Madrid president called Cristiano Ronaldo 'an imbecile' in leaked audio

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is very much in the sporting news spotlight following the fallout of leaked audio in which he spews vitriol at multiple people, including superstar and former Real Madrid player Cristiano Ronaldo.

In audio dated 2012 that was leaked this week by Spanish newspaper El Confidencial, Perez refers to Ronaldo as an "imbecile" and fellow Portuguese star manager Jose Mourinho as "abnormal."

"This chap is an imbecile, he is ill," Perez said of Ronaldo in the leaked audio. "Do you think this chap is normal? He is not normal, otherwise he wouldn't do the things he does. The last foolish thing he did, everyone around the world saw it. Why do you think he does that foolish thing?"

Perez also criticized Ronaldo and Mourinho's agent, Jorge Mendes.

"Mendes does not order (Ronaldo), nor does he order Mourinho whatsoever," Perez vents. "Zero. Not even for the interviews. These are guys with huge egos, both of them spoiled."

This isn't the first time leaked audio of Perez skewering players has surfaced — not even the first time this week. El Confidencial leaked audio just one day earlier of Perez slamming former players Iker Casillas and Raul Gonzalez back in 2006.

Perez issued a statement regarding the 2006 audio prior to the 2012 audio being leaked, saying his comments have been "taken out of the wider context in which they were made."

Given there are multiple audio snippets in which Perez airs his rage, the context doesn't appear all that misunderstood.