Rafael Nadal has been proposed to join Real Madrid's board of directors, but he would need to provide a bank guarantee of €187 million (£155.90m) to pursue the club's presidency in the future. The tennis icon, a lifelong Real Madrid supporter and honorary member, has been proposed as the newest member of president Florentino Perez's board.
While the 22-time Grand Slam champion has been approved by the board, he must receive final approval from Real Madrid's Extraordinary General Assembly on November 21. The move has sparked speculation about Nadal potentially stepping into the top job in the future.
Financial Requirements for Presidency
Nadal, who retired from tennis in November 2024, has no plans to stop working despite his vast fortune. The 40-year-old's net worth is around £163 million, meaning he would need to use a significant portion of it as a guarantee if he wanted the presidency any time soon.
There is no indication he is seeking Perez's job just yet, after the Real Madrid chief secured a new four-year term as president earlier this year. Nadal singled out Perez for thanks after being proposed for his newest role.
"I want to thank President Florentino Perez and the board for proposing that I join the board of directors of Real Madrid," Nadal said. "I have accepted this proposal with great excitement, a desire to learn, and a willingness to contribute everything I can."
Criteria for the Top Job
The financial responsibility is just one part of the criteria that must be fulfilled should Nadal target the presidency in the future. The criteria includes being a Spanish citizen of legal age, being a Real Madrid member for at least 20 years, not holding football positions at other clubs, and the candidacy must include a board of directors. The specific financial responsibility is to present a bank guarantee equivalent to 15 per cent of the club's annual budget.
Nadal has spoken on more than one occasion about the possibility of becoming Real Madrid president, while also praising Perez's achievements. Asked about the possibility in 2023, Nadal said: "I think I would like to be it. But first of all, lots of things. First of all, today there is nothing to say because we have the best president possible. Afterwards, I don't know if what I could think now is what I could think tomorrow. And afterwards, life takes many turns."
Nadal's Long-Standing Ambition
During his tennis career, Nadal described the possibility as a 'utopia'. "One has to know if one is capable to do those types of things," he said. "I'm pretty realistic with myself, I know more or less my limitations and in that (being president), I don't know whether I'd be capable or I wouldn't be capable. But time will tell."
"You never know what can happen. Everyone knows I'm a football fanatic and Real Madrid is my team. Speaking about that now is a utopia, but if you ask me, of course I would like to be president. In any case, we're very well how we are, we have a great president and I don't think Real Madrid needs me for anything or that it is going to happen."
