"In terms of organisation, marketing and professionalism without doubt Manchester United are the team to copy," Perez said in an interview with radio station Onda Cero reproduced in the Spanish press on Wednesday.
Perez believes that it is possible to recoup the world record $66million (?75.27m) fee Real paid to secure the services of Zinedine Zidane through a series of marketing and image deals similar to those used by the English premier league side.
Real have already experienced a boom in replica shirt sales with demand for the French star's number five shirt outstripping those of the team's other leading players.
They are also looking to exploit other merchandising opportunities via the internet and their own television channel.
The eight-time European Cup winners have not yet followed the example of English clubs like United in arranging lucrative pre-season tours outside Europe, but they are said to be seeking to play one-off friendly matches to raise their profile.
Real will receive $1.5m (?1.71m) for playing a match against Egyptian club Al Ahli on August 4.
After concluding a deal with Madrid city council which will see Real sell off its city-centre training ground in order to clear its massive debts of more than $250m (?285.13), the club now faces the prospect of recovering its financial solvency for the first time in years.
But Perez, who is also the owner of one of Spain's most successful construction empires, admitted that football clubs should not see the sport as a way of making big profits.
"More than anything else, football is an activity that excites passions and emotions. It is never going to be a very profitable business for the clubs," he said.
Florentino Perez, president of Spanish soccer club Real Madrid, wants to follow Manchester United's example in exploiting marketing opportunities in the game.
