Enrique Riquelme has announced his candidacy for the Real Madrid presidency, challenging Florentino Perez with a plan to sign Erling Haaland from Manchester City and appoint Jurgen Klopp as manager. The election was called by Perez amid a period of instability at the Bernabeu, hoping to reinforce his position at the club.
Riquelme, the 37-year-old president of COX Energy, has reportedly already initiated talks with Haaland’s representatives, led by Rafaela Pimenta, capitalizing on the uncertainty surrounding Manchester City following Pep Guardiola’s announcement to depart this summer. While Haaland is currently under contract with City until 2034, Riquelme believes this period of transition presents an opportunity to secure the striker. Any potential deal would be complex, given Haaland’s current valuation, estimated between €125 million and €152.7 million by ETV.
Beyond a potential marquee signing, Riquelme is also targeting Klopp to take over as manager, a move that would represent a significant shift from Perez’s current plans to appoint Jose Mourinho on a two-year deal. Sources indicate Riquelme has held multiple meetings with representatives of the former Liverpool manager, viewing him as a key figure in his sporting project. Klopp currently serves as global director of football for Red Bull.
The need for an election stems from a turbulent season for Real Madrid. The club currently sits second in La Liga, trailing Barcelona by 11 points, and has experienced managerial instability with Xabi Alonso’s dismissal in January and the subsequent appointment of Alvaro Arbeloa as interim manager. Alonso’s tenure was marked by reported clashes with key players like Vinicius Junior, contributing to a deteriorating atmosphere within the squad.
Despite meeting the requirements to challenge Perez – including Spanish citizenship, 20 years of club membership, and a substantial financial guarantee – Riquelme faces an uphill battle. Perez has remained unopposed since 2009, and unseating an incumbent president at Real Madrid is historically difficult. The formal voting process is scheduled for June 7th, should Riquelme successfully finalize his candidacy by the May 23rd deadline. If no other candidate emerges, Perez will be re-elected unopposed on May 24th.
