Real Madrid to Appoint Rafael Nadal to Board 

Real Madrid plans to appoint retired tennis star Rafael Nadal to their board of directors, the Spanish football club has announced.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion has been an honorary member of the club since 2011 and maintains a close relationship with president Florentino Perez.

In a statement, Real Madrid described Nadal’s proposed appointment as a source of pride, citing his achievements and standing in Spanish and international sport. The club said it expected him to contribute to its current activities and future development.

“For Real Madrid and for all Madrid supporters, it is a source of immense pride that a figure of his sporting and human stature — a benchmark of Spanish and world sport — should become part of our board of directors and, in this role, contribute to the present and future of our club,” Los Blancos said in a statement.

The appointment will be presented to the club’s members, known as socios, for approval at the general assembly scheduled for November 21.

Nadal welcomed the proposal in a post on X (formerly Twitter), thanking Perez and the board for considering him for the position. 

He said he had accepted the offer enthusiastically and looked forward to learning and contributing to the club.

“I want to thank president Florentino Perez and the board for proposing that I join the board of directors of Real Madrid,” Nadal wrote. 

“I have accepted this proposal with great excitement, I’m eager to learn and to contribute everything I can.”

The 40-year-old Spaniard retired from professional tennis after a decorated career that included 22 Grand Slam singles titles, among them a record 14 French Open championships.

Nadal previously expressed interest in leading Real Madrid, saying in 2023 that becoming the club’s president was an ambition he might consider, although he questioned whether he had the necessary qualifications.

However, ahead of this year’s club presidential election, he distanced himself from reports that he intended to contest the position.

Perez retained the presidency in June after defeating challenger Enrique Riquelme.