Real Madrid Board Backs Rafael Nadal for Board Seat, Pending Member Vote
Real Madrid said its board agreed on November 4 to put Rafael Nadal forward for a seat on its board of directors, a move that still needs approval from the club's delegate members. Nadal, who retired from tennis in November 2024, said he accepted the invitation.
Real Madrid said on Wednesday that its board of directors agreed to put Rafael Nadal forward for a seat on the club’s board, a move that still needs approval from the club’s delegate members. The club announced the decision after its board meeting on November 4.
Nadal, who won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, is already an honorary member of the club, a distinction he received in 2011. Real Madrid said he is member number 67,778. Nadal wrote on social media that he thanked President Florentino Perez and the board for the invitation and that he had accepted it.
“I have accepted this invitation with great enthusiasm, keen to learn and to contribute as much as I can,” Nadal wrote.
A longtime supporter of the club
Nadal retired from tennis in November 2024. Real Madrid pointed to his record of 92 tour singles titles, two Olympic gold medals, five Davis Cup wins with Spain and time ranked world number one. The club also cited his humility, respect for opponents and charity work, saying those traits fit its identity.
Nadal has long been talked about as a possible successor to Perez, although he has played down that prospect, according to Reuters. Perez, 79, secured another four-year term in June after the club’s first contested presidential election in two decades. More than a third of voting members backed challenger Enrique Riquelme, who opposed plans to bring outside investment into the member-owned club.
What happens next
The appointment is not final until the General Assembly of Delegated Members ratifies it, Real Madrid said. The club did not give a date for that vote in its statement.
Reporting based on coverage by Reuters and TNT Sports.
