Rafa Nadal, the best athlete in the history of Spanish sport, has everything to succeed Florentino Pérez at Real Madrid.
Nada ended his career as a sportsman by playing for the Spanish Davis Cup team against the Netherlands. He was defeated by Botic van de Zandschulp. Now he is looking at life with other goals and objectives outside of the tennis courts.
Florentino Will Leave the Presidency in 2029
Real Madrid is preparing a big tribute to this exemplary athlete who has stood out for his human qualities, his professional level and his madridism.
His candidacy to succeed Florentino Pérez as president of Real Madrid is already shaping up. Florentino is 77 years old and plans to stand for re-election in 2025. At the end of that mandate he will be 82 years old and it will be time for him to take over.
Who better than Rafa Nadal to take over from Florentino Pérez? He meets all the requirements: unanimously admired by everyone, a true Madrid fan, financially solvent and prepared to represent the club.
Recently, Alex Corretja, who knows him very well, told AS: "Why not? I don't rule out Nadal's being president of Real Madrid."
He added: "I'm convinced that he can contribute a lot wherever he goes. I wouldn't be surprised."
What Does Nadal Say?
Last February, Nadal said on COPE about this matter:
"Being president of Real Madrid is not in my life plans. If circumstances arise, the opportunity comes and life gives me that option... I am a great fan of soccer and Real Madrid ."
He added: "I'd never face Florentino Pérez, someone who's very good for Real Madrid. His work is impressive."
"The financial management he's done during these difficult times couldn't have been done better. I, as a Real Madrid fan, don't believe that I could've done it better," Nadal said.
In another interview with Juanma Castaño on Movistar+, Nadal made it clear that "Would I like to? I think I would. But first of all, today we have the best possible president."
The requirements to be president of Real Madrid
-Have Spanish nationality, be of legal age and have the capacity to act
-Be up to date with the payment of fees
-Not hold other managerial positions in soccer
-Have 20 years as a member
-A bank guarantee equivalent to 15% of the general expenditure budget of the club
-Spanish nationality
Nadal meets all the requirements. He has also been an honorary member of the club since 2011. The most delicate issue is the guarantee of 15% of the budget, which is estimated to amount to around 150 million.
Nadal, however, would not be going alone and could face this commitment jointly. Nadal has earned around 150 million in prize money throughout his career, to which must be added his advertising income.
Nadal is one of the few Real Madrid members who could meet this demand.
Florentino Pérez blesses his status as successor. No one better than him to continue the work started by the man who is possibly the best president in the history of the club. He just needs permission from Don Santiago Bernabéu.