Real Madrid could unexpectedly face a presidential race after a major report revealed that businessman Enrique Riquelme is seriously considering running against Florentino Perez in the upcoming elections.
According to AS, Riquelme was caught off guard by the sudden decision to call elections and is now travelling to Madrid to evaluate whether a candidacy is realistically possible within the extremely limited timeframe.
The report explains that the 37-year-old businessman has not abandoned his ambition of one day leading Real Madrid.
Riquelme had already hinted at a possible future candidacy back in 2021, and since then he has continued building relationships within the Real Madrid environment while developing a long-term project connected to the club.
Now, following Florentino Perez’s unexpected election announcement, the businessman is preparing meetings with close collaborators in Madrid to analyse whether there is enough time to formally organise a campaign.
According to the outlet, Riquelme will arrive in Spain in the coming hours to meet with trusted figures who have already been involved in discussions surrounding a future presidential project.
Election rules complicate the situation
Despite the interest, the enormous difficulty of launching a valid candidacy against Florentino Perez within such a short period remains a big hurdle for the businessman.
Under Real Madrid’s statutes, any presidential candidate must assemble a board of directors containing at least nine members.
In addition, the vice-president must have been a club member for at least 15 years, while the presidential candidate must have held membership status for a minimum of 20 years.
Candidates are also required to provide a financial guarantee worth 15% of the club’s budget, which currently amounts to approximately €187 million based on Real Madrid’s €1.2 billion budget.
These conditions leave very little room for manoeuvre for anyone attempting to challenge the current president.
Riquelme meets membership requirements
One important detail working in Riquelme’s favour is that he fulfils the membership requirement necessary to become Real Madrid president.
According to the report, the businessman has been a club member for more than 20 years and comes from a deeply Madridista family background, as he is the son of one of the club’s board members.
Despite the latest development, it is known that Perez still remains the overwhelming favourite to continue leading Real Madrid, as he holds enormous influence within the club.