Rafael Nadal Reportedly In Contention To Become Next Real Madrid President
22-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal has been sensationally linked for the Presidential hotseat at Spanish football club Real Madrid, to replace the incumbent Florentino Perez.
Nadal, widely recognized as a tennis icon, has been a massive Real Madrid supporter since childhood and always finds time to watch them play regularly when he is away from the ATP Tour. The 37-year-old is taking time away from tennis to recuperate from injuries and will miss the remainder of the 2023 season.
Last week, Real Madrid categorically denied that Perez, their second longest-serving President, would be stepping down after rumors emanated from social media stating the same. Perez was President between 2000-2006 and returned for a second term in 2009 and still remains at the helm.
The news has certainly generated plenty of interest in Spanish tabloids. One of them, Mundo Deportivo (MD), reports that although Perez leaving is not immediate, it is a plan in the works which calls for a key moment. This moment they say, is after the renovation work of the Santiago Bernabeu - Real Madrid's iconic stadium - is completed.
MD also claims that Perez, 76, wants to put a plan in place well beforehand, to avoid the scenario of the 2006 transition period recurring, when he resigned following his first term without lack of continuity in place. They add that Perez's departure is closer than ever.
Rafael Nadal has not confirmed the validity of these reports nor has Real Madrid issued any additional statements to dispel these rumors linking the tennis legend to potentially taking over as their 18th President. Another Spanish tabloid, Sport, has linked Nadal's name to the seat.
Sport reports that Perez's dream is to hand over the reins to the Spanish tennis player once he retires as Real Madrid's President. So much so, that he describes him as 'the best possible ambassador of Real Madrid and its values'. Even though this sounds overly fanciful, Nadal could still have a role in the newly formed executive team when a new President is elected.
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