Enrique Riquelme, a 37-year-old businessman, has announced his candidacy to become president of Real Madrid, challenging the long-standing reign of Florentino Pérez. According to multiple Spanish media outlets, Riquelme has secured financial backing of approximately 200 million euros for his campaign.
The electoral commission now has until Sunday to validate Riquelme’s candidacy, which could trigger the first Real Madrid presidential elections in two decades. To qualify, Riquelme was required to demonstrate support equivalent to 15% of the club’s budget, amounting to 197 million euros, a threshold he reportedly met.
Should his candidacy be approved, elections must be held within fifteen days, setting a deadline of June 9th. Addressing the press, Riquelme urged Real Madrid members, or ‘socios’, to consider his platform. “I ask the socios not to be afraid,” he stated, “I ask them to have the courage to listen to us.”
Florentino Pérez is also standing for re-election, having recently asserted that nothing will change at the club. He has launched a campaign highlighting Real Madrid’s Champions League victories in cities such as Glasgow, Lisbon, Milan, Cardiff, Kyiv, Paris, and London, with the slogan “Much history to do.” The timing of this challenge comes at a potentially vulnerable moment for Pérez, with Real Madrid’s recent form under scrutiny. While the club secured a La Liga title, their performance throughout the season has been inconsistent.
The emergence of a serious challenger to Pérez’s presidency marks a significant development for the Spanish giants, potentially ushering in a new era for the club.
