Rafael Nadal has firmly dismissed reports suggesting he could become the next President of Real Madrid, making it clear that there is no truth to the speculation. His clarification comes shortly after the current President, Florentino Perez, called for fresh elections despite his mandate running until 2029.
The rumors stemmed from a report by La Vanguardia, which claimed that Enrique Riquelme was considering a joint bid for the presidency alongside David Mesonero, with Nadal allegedly approached to be part of the project.
However, Nadal quickly put an end to the speculation, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to state that the reports are completely false. He posted:
“I have read reports that link me to possible candidacy for the presidency of Real Madrid. I would like to clarify that these reports are not true.”
Rafael Nadal was born in Mallorca, and soccer runs in his family, with his uncle Miguel Angel Nadal having played for Real Mallorca and Barcelona. Despite those roots, the 22-time Grand Slam champion is a self-proclaimed fan of Real Madrid and is often seen at the Santiago Bernabéu cheering on Los Blancos.
Rafael Nadal Reveals Why He Supports Real Madrid Over Barcelona
During a 2020 interview with Corriere della Sera, Rafael Nadal explained why his family leans toward Real Madrid despite the presence of FC Barcelona. He noted that while some relatives supported Barcelona due to his uncle Miguel Angel Nadal having played there, the majority of his family were always Real Madrid fans.
Nadal said:
“My dad and all my family have always been Real Madrid fans. When my uncle played for Barcelona, they obviously encouraged him. Later he returned to Mallorcaand since then we have been divided: some are still Barcelona fans, others Real Madrid.”
When asked about his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo, who was a legendary figure at Real Madrid before leaving in 2018, Nadal said:
“Friend is a very strong word for me. My friends are people from Manacor with whom I grew up. Cristiano Ronaldo is a companion, a colleague.”
Rafael Nadal retired from the ATP Tour 18 months ago, bringing the curtain down on his career at the Davis Cup in November 2024. The 39-year-old has since kept himself busy with his academy, parenthood, playing golf, attending sponsor commitments, working through his foundation, and more.
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