Enrique Riquelme, a candidate for the presidency of Real Madrid, has asserted that he has two unnamed “international stars” ready to join the team if he succeeds in his bid to replace Florentino Pérez.
This marks the first election for the club in two decades, following the formal approval of Riquelme’s candidacy by the club’s electoral commission on Sunday.
Pérez, aged 79, called for a members’ vote after Real Madrid finished the last two seasons without securing a major trophy. He will now face off against Riquelme, 37, in the club’s first contested election since 2006.
“We have two international stars signed,” Riquelme revealed in an interview with ABC on Monday, although he did not disclose their identities. “I have an agreement that if I become president, two major international stars will join Real Madrid—players crucial to our sporting project for the short, medium, and long term.”
Riquelme indicated that he would “probably” reveal the players’ names during the two-week presidential campaign, as specified by the club’s rules.
On Monday, Riquelme inaugurated his campaign headquarters situated directly across from the Bernabéu stadium.
Pérez has held the presidency of Madrid since 2000, with a three-year hiatus after his resignation in 2006. He was reelected without opposition in 2009, 2013, 2017, 2021, and 2025.
– Inter Miami reports Lionel Messi was substituted due to muscle fatigue
– Erling Haaland: Man City can still ‘win everything’ without Pep Guardiola
– Man United captain Bruno Fernandes responds to Roy Keane’s comments
Reports from ESPN suggest that former Madrid manager José Mourinho has agreed to a two-year deal to return as head coach. However, it remains uncertain when official confirmation of his appointment will be made due to the ongoing electoral process.
This season began with Xabi Alonso at the helm, but he was dismissed in January and replaced by reserve team coach Álvaro Arbeloa.
“If I’m president, we’ll assess [Mourinho’s return],” Riquelme stated. “Our goal is to create a long-term project… Hiring [Alonso] was a good decision, but letting him go was a mistake. You can’t build a project in just three months; he needed more time and decision-making ability.”
Riquelme has yet to disclose who his favored coach would be.
“I admire [Jürgen] Klopp, but there are other coaches I appreciate as well,” he remarked. “Real Madrid cannot afford to ‘experiment’ with coaching choices. Perhaps [Arbeloa] wasn’t the ideal fit for this moment.”
Additionally, Riquelme expressed his intention to appoint a sporting director if he wins the election, stating, “I have someone in mind, and we will announce it in the coming days.”
Spain’s coach Luis de la Fuente confirmed his 26-man squad for the World Cup on Monday, notably excluding any Real Madrid players. This decision came after Dean Huijsen joined Dani Carvajal in not being selected.
Riquelme shared, “It saddens me. However, it’s a reflection of years lacking professional management. When decisions regarding sports are made in offices rather than by those knowledgeable in sporting management, situations like this arise.”