Renewable energy entrepreneur Enrique Riquelme has confirmed his intention to run for the Real Madrid presidency.Riquelme, 37, officially announced his plans to stand after attending Madrid’s Valdebebas training ground on Saturday.Madrid’s electoral board is expected to confirm his candidacy on Sunday. He is the only person challenging Madrid’s existing president Florentino Perez, who called for fresh elections on May 12 and has stood unopposed in each of the club’s last four electoral cycles in 2013, 2017, 2021 and 2025.Riquelme called on Madrid members to “be brave” and vote for a candidacy that he described as being “in favour of Real Madrid”.“Today is a very important day for Real Madrid,” Riquelme said in a speech after leaving Valdebebas. “After 20 years, there will finally be a chance to vote. This is not a candidacy against anyone; it is in favour of Real Madrid, in support of a project we have worked on extensively up to this point and that we would decide on today.
“We have an enormously important project in sporting terms and socially; there are many initiatives that the members will love. I ask them not to be afraid, to be brave, to listen to us, and to vote between the two candidacies thinking about the short, medium, and long term.“Once the electoral board officially names us as candidates, we will have two weeks to present all the projects we have, and I hope you will allow all the messages to reach every corner of Spain.”Riquelme is chief executive of renewable energy company Cox Energy. He openly considered running in Madrid’s 2021 elections and has continued to build links with influential figures around the Bernabeu outside Perez’s regime — but did not stand in 2025.Perez, who also served as Madrid president from 2000-2006, called elections this month after the club’s second successive season without a trophy was confirmed, and with unrest growing among supporters and within the dressing room.On May 14, Madrid formally called the elections and triggered the 10-day period during which candidates must present their bids. The club’s electoral board will have the power to reject a candidacy they decide does not meet the requirements.May 23, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms
