The renovation of the Santiago Bernabéu continues to stir controversy in Madrid. The municipal group Más Madrid filed nine objections on Friday against the modification of the stadium’s surrounding redevelopment plan, calling for the project to be halted until the ongoing legal proceedings are resolved. These objections add to those already submitted by the PSOE, which is also demanding a stop to the construction of new parking facilities promoted by Real Madrid in the stadium area.

Criticism of Almeida and Florentino Pérez

Más Madrid councilor José Luis Nieto accused mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida of pushing the plan through during the holiday period to avoid public scrutiny: “This project is a gift to the club and goes against the interests of local residents. Instead of improving public space, it privatizes it and increases the club’s profits with massive parking lots,” he said.

According to the party led by Rita Maestre, the project is incompatible with the existing urban development plan approved in previous administrations and lacks transparency regarding the expected financial benefits for the club chaired by Florentino Pérez. They also criticized the absence of mobility studies, the destruction of the 1982 World Cup gardens, and the contradiction with the city’s cycling mobility plan.

The Bernabéu as a symbol and Real Madrid’s present

As political debates intensify, within the Real Madrid dressing room the symbolic importance of the stadium is emphasized. English defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, a recent signing, admitted after his first matches: “The Bernabéu is a sacred place. You feel the weight of the shirt, and that pushes you to give everything.”

The full-back explained that he left Liverpool in search of new challenges, influenced as well by his friendship with Jude Bellingham, who spoke highly of the atmosphere at Real Madrid. “It was one of the toughest decisions of my life, but Madrid felt like the right step at the right time,” he said in an interview with GQ magazine.

The Santiago Bernabéu renovation continues to progress both on a sporting and symbolic level, but faces political and legal obstacles that could slow down part of the project. In the meantime, players and fans alike regard the stadium as a true emblem of the club and a constant challenge for those who have the honor of wearing the white shirt.