Rafael Nadal set to join Real Madrid board of directors
The tennis legend accepted an invitation from president Florentino Perez to join the Spanish football club's leadership.
Real Madrid announced on Wednesday that the club's board has nominated tennis champion Rafael Nadal to join its board of directors. According to reports from BBC News, The Indian Express and Rediff, the club's board agreed at a meeting on November 4 to submit the appointment for ratification by the General Assembly of Delegated Members.
Nadal, who retired from tennis in November 2024, is already an honorary member of the club and holds member number 67,778. The club stated that Nadal is a legendary figure in sport and a benchmark for Spanish and world athletics. The statement added that his qualities, such as humility and respect for rivals, reflect the identity of the club.
The 40-year-old athlete, who has won 22 Grand Slam titles, two Olympic gold medals and five Davis Cups for Spain, expressed his excitement on social media. Nadal thanked president Florentino Perez and the board for the proposal, noting his desire to learn and his willingness to provide as much help as possible to the club.
It is currently unclear what specific responsibilities Nadal will hold in this new role. Perez, who has been president since 2009, was re-elected to a new four-year term in June following the club's first contested election in 20 years.
Real Madrid is currently third in the league after 11 games, sitting three points behind Barcelona. The club recently appointed Jose Mourinho as head coach to improve results after two seasons without a trophy in La Liga, the Champions League or the Copa del Rey.