Nadal lined up for Real Madrid role as Perez plans club’s long-term future

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is preparing the club for life beyond his current tenure, with tennis great Rafael Nadal emerging as a potential future president and trusted allies gaining greater influence within the organisation.

Perez is also working on a restructuring plan designed to raise up to €1bn while preserving Real Madrid’s independence and avoiding a conversion into a publicly listed sports company.

According to Spanish newspaper El Periodico, as reported by Catalan publication Sport, Perez described the decision to add Nadal to Real Madrid’s board on 4 November as “a stroke of genius”. Nadal’s appointment is expected to be ratified at the club’s general assembly on 21 November.

The move is seen as damaging to businessman Enrique Riquelme’s ambitions. Riquelme won 35% of the vote in the previous election and had hoped to challenge Perez for the presidency. However, Perez is seeking to prepare a successor who shares his confidence and can preserve his vision for the club over the long term.

Nadal must complete 20 years as a Real Madrid member before he can stand for the presidency. That requirement will be met in 2031, one year after the end of Perez’s new term. Any election ticket would also have to provide a bank guarantee worth at least 15% of the club’s expenditure budget.

Trusted figures gain influence

Moroccan businessman Anas Al-Gharari is described as one of Perez’s closest allies. He has played an important role in strategic and financial matters, particularly the redevelopment of the Santiago Bernabeu.

Bernd Reichart, meanwhile, has taken a leading role in commercial affairs, including global sponsorships, the use of the stadium and other business activities. His work is overseen by general manager Jose Angel Sanchez.

The report also highlights the growing presence of members of Perez’s family around the club. His grandson, Eduardo Perez Ortiz, works in investments and strategic operations, while his son Florentino Junior and his brother Enrique, who is vice-president of the board, are also involved.

Perez’s wider institutional plan would involve selling a minority stake to financial investors in exchange for €1bn. Those investors would not receive control of Real Madrid, and the club would not become a sports joint-stock company. The names of Sixth Street and entities linked to billionaire Bernard Arnault have been mentioned among the potential participants.

Perez had promised to call an extraordinary general assembly to discuss the proposal, but that meeting has not yet taken place. The 21 November assembly is expected to focus on Nadal’s appointment rather than the restructuring plan, a situation that has caused concern among some club members.

Real Madrid have also received a financial boost after Madrid City Council acknowledged an error in the reclassification of land at the club’s training complex. The change will increase the profit connected to the case from €1.46m to €98.6m.