Author: Monojit Mandal
Rafael Nadal, tennis star and loyal Real Madrid fan, has made an unexpected admission about his intention to become president of the renowned soccer club in the future. With current president Florentino Pérez reaching the age of 76, speculation about his succession has been rife, with many pointing to the completion of the huge Santiago Bernabéu reconstruction project as his best achievement.
Nadal, whose name has been mentioned as a possible successor, recently admitted to having presidential ambitions in an interview with Movistar+. “I promise you it’s not something that’s on my mind at the moment,” he said openly. “Do I want to be? Yes, I think so“. However, he emphasized that he is not attached to the concept, considering the club’s current leadership and the unpredictability of life’s changing views. “I’m quite realistic with myself; I’m aware of my limitations and I’m not sure I could do it.”“Only time will tell.”
To put an end to the rumors of talks with Perez, Nadal’s candidacy seems to meet the club’s strict qualification standards for presidential candidates. These requirements include the ability to provide a bank guarantee of 15% of the budget, which must exceed 100 million euros, a minimum of 20 years’ membership of the club and Spanish nationality, which drastically reduces the number of eligible candidates.
Rafael Nadal’s stature transcends the boundaries of the tennis arena, as he is widely acclaimed as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. His famous rivalry with Roger Federer remains a top attraction in the history of the sport, with Nadal claiming 24 wins in 40 meetings, including 14 in 19 Grand Slam matches. Nadal gained popularity for his relentless intellectual strength, regularly turning the tide of matches that seemed to be slipping away.