“There’s a deal!” – Real Madrid presidential candidate proudly shares he’s locked in two big signings
Real Madrid’s possible new president has excited fans by saying he’s ready to announce the signing of “two big international stars” very soon.
Florentino Perez, who is starting his second term, has led Real Madrid for a total of 25 years and was re-elected until 2029 last year. But after a season without any trophies, a new election will happen soon. Enrique Riquelme has told the club’s electoral committee that he wants to run for president.
The vote will take place in the next two weeks. Riquelme, a renewable energy businessman, is challenging Perez and has paid the required €187 million deposit to enter the race. The campaign is getting exciting as Real has set a 10-day window for candidates to submit their plans. Riquelme is trying to win over the club’s 100,000 members by saying he has already secured two major signings.
In an interview with ABC, shared by MARCA, Riquelme said, “I have signed two big international stars for Real Madrid. We are also working on the coach side. If I become president, these two players will join Real Madrid and they’re important for the club’s short, medium, and long-term plans.”
When asked if the signings would be announced soon, he said, “Probably yes.”
It’s common for presidential candidates in Spain to promise new players to get votes, but this election might delay Jose Mourinho’s expected return as Real Madrid’s manager. Mourinho, currently at Benfica, is set to come back but his release clause of €7 million expires on Tuesday. After that, Real would have to pay €15 million to buy him out.
MARCA also reports that Jurgen Klopp would be Riquelme’s dream coach if he wins.
Riquelme is the founder of Cox Energy, a renewable energy company. He’s good friends with tennis star and Real fan Rafael Nadal and even sponsors a team in electric boat racing. Born in Vega Baja, Alicante, he moved to Central America at 21 and has since managed big solar projects in several countries. In April, his company bought the Mexican branch of Spanish energy company Iberdrola for $4 billion.
A big Real Madrid fan, Riquelme has attended Champions League finals in Milan, Kiev, Cardiff, and London. Recently, he wore a Dani Carvajal jersey for the club legend’s last game at the Bernabeu.
His father, also named Enrique Riquelme, was a club director between 2006 and 2009. Enrique Jr. planned to run for president back in 2021 when he was only 32 and has been preparing ever since. Perez doesn’t seem thrilled about the challenge. In a recent press conference, he said, “Let the man who talks with electricity companies and has a Mexican accent run. They say this is a dictatorship. Let him do better.”
Perez first won the election by promising to sign Luis Figo from Barcelona in 2000—a move that shocked football fans worldwide.