JAKARTA - Entrepreneur Enrique Riquelme has told Real Madrid's election commission that he intends to run for president of Los Blancos.
President Florentino Perez announced last week that elections would be held again, saying he planned to run for re-election as the club faces a second consecutive season without winning a major trophy.
Perez, 79, led Real Madrid from 2000 to 2006 - when he resigned - before returning in 2009 to the present and facing no opposition in the club's last five election cycles.
In a letter sent to the commission on Thursday, May 21, 2026, local time, Riquelme said he hoped to present a project for Real Madrid in the future.
Riquelme now has 48 hours until Saturday, May 23, 2026, local time, to officially submit his candidacy and the board he proposes, according to the club's statutes. The election commission then has one day to review, and accept or reject, the candidacy.
Riquelme said in recent days that he was preparing his candidacy, after calling for a longer election campaign to allow greater transparency and participation from fans.
If more than one candidate is accepted, the commission will then set a date for the election in which club members can cast their votes.
Club election rules were tightened in a member vote in 2012. The rules state that presidential candidates must have Spanish nationality, have been a club member for at least 20 years, and be able to guarantee 15 percent of the club's annual budget.
With one round of matches remaining in the LaLiga season, Real Madrid is 11 points behind defending champions Barcelona. They were knocked out in the quarterfinals of the Champions League by Bayern Munich, and were eliminated from the Copa del Rey by Albacete who play in the second division (Segunda Division).
In January 2026, Xabi Alonso was fired from the Real Madrid manager's seat and replaced by reserve team coach Alvaro Arbeloa, who has not been able to turn the team around.
On Monday, May 18, 2026, ESPN reported that Jose Mourinho had agreed to a two-year contract to return as Real Madrid manager.
The last time Real Madrid did not win a major trophy for two consecutive seasons was in 2006.
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