Rafael Nadal Wants to Retire in  2024, Interested in Becoming President of Real Madrid

Rafael Nadal was a special guest at the Santiago Bernabeu, home to Real Madrid. (photo: twitter @jusvan28)

JAKARTA - Rafael Nadal recently made his first major statement since he played his last match eight months ago, at the Australian Open.

A few months later, he announced that he would not play the entire season. Now, in a relaxed atmosphere and looking healthy, Rafa talks with Juanma Castano in front of the Movistar Plus+ camera.

He hinted that his decision to retire from tennis in 2024 would depend on his physical condition. Rafa said that in the last few months, he had gone through various phases.

"The last time I spoke publicly, I didn't know that I would have to have surgery," Nadal told Movistar Plus+.

"Actually, I have been having problems since a year and a half ago when I injured my ribs while playing against Alcaraz in Indian Wells, although in between I was able to win Roland Garros again. Sometimes the results make up for the daily pain," he said.

The pain had not completely left him, but it was manageable now. "Sometimes my legs don't let me live in peace, it's difficult for me to go down the stairs, and that happens sometimes," Nadal said.

"If it hurts, it's hard for me to be happy, it changes my character when it hurts more than it should," he said.

Currently her physical condition allows her to open the door toward retirement from her tennis career.

"I said that maybe 2024 will be my last year," Nadal said. "I maintain it, but I can't confirm it 100%.”

"I think there is a big possibility that it will happen, because I know how my body is, but how I will be in four months, I don't know. I'm not sure what I will do in 2024, because it will change completely depending on what my goal," he said.

"If I don't recover, that's one thing, if I can compete at a level that excites me, that's another... My hope is, by mid-November, to know what my physical condition is. This is the deadline I have set for myself," he said.

Nadal admits he regrets how he treated his body during the early stages of his career. Nadal even blamed himself for his physical problems, and stated that a lack of attention when he was young had contributed to his injury problems.

"I will change many things in my life and career. I have made the wrong decisions in terms of protecting my physique," Nadal said.

"I did it when I was young, but over the years I have become one of the best players on the circuit. (Novak) Djokovic has done better because his playing style has allowed him to play more than me. But I was wrong because I thought my decision good," he said.

President of Real Madrid

When asked about what he hopes to achieve after leaving tennis, Nadal noted his love for football.

Despite having family ties to Barcelona, ​​Nadal has always been a Real Madrid fan. He really likes Los Blancos and hopes to be part of the club structure one day.

"Yes, I want to be president of Real Madrid," said Nadal. “But at the moment there is nothing to say, because we have the best president. After that, life takes many turns, and you have to consider whether you are capable of doing certain things.”