Real Madrid election: Riquelme's potential Cristiano Ronaldo card against Perez

A new presidential election at Real Madrid has been called by current chief Florentino Perez, and he now confronts a formidable opponent in Enrique Riquelme, the head of the "Cox" business group. According to the newspaper *Marca*, Riquelme is prepared to enter the race and is only waiting for the official start of the electoral process to submit his candidacy. He had expressed interest in the position back in 2021 but did not run at that time.

During a contentious press conference, Perez accused his potential rival of attempting to destabilize the club. Reports, however, indicate that Riquelme easily meets the candidacy requirements: he must have been a club member for over 20 years and provide a financial guarantee equal to 15% of the annual budget, which amounts to roughly €187 million. At 37 years old, the "Cox" group he leads is estimated to be worth around €1 billion, and he has been a Real Madrid member since childhood.

The Ronaldo factor

As reports of Riquelme's candidacy spread, speculation has emerged about a possible role for Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, a Real Madrid icon who now captains Saudi club Al-Nassr. Ronaldo left the Spanish club in the summer of 2018 for a blockbuster transfer to Juventus in Italy, but his name is now resurfacing in the context of the upcoming election.