Real Madrid presidential hopeful Enrique Riquelme has claimed he has already secured the signatures of two world-class talents should he succeed in his bid to lead the club.
The battle for the Real Madrid presidency has officially ignited. Enrique Riquelme, the man aiming to topple Florentino Perez, is making an early power play in his campaign.
In an interview with ‘ABC’, the Grupo COX chief executive outlined his ambitious vision: “We have secured two international stars and we will be announcing them. These are two elite talents who will represent Real Madrid.”
“I cannot comment on whether the Madrid dressing room has become toxic as I am not inside it,” he admitted. “While friction is often cited as normal, what is unacceptable is that it becomes public knowledge. The leak itself isn’t the primary concern; the real issue is that things have reached a point where such behaviour is viewed as normal. In a professional club staffed by the right personnel, underpinned by hierarchy and respect, this simply should not happen,” he stated.
When the name of Jose Mourinho was raised, Riquelme was measured: “He is a magnificent coach who has enjoyed immense success, though his man-management style is certainly unique. That can be a blessing or a curse depending on the club. However, I am firm in my belief that Real Madrid requires a long-term vision, not a temporary fix. Should I be elected president, we will assess the situation, but our focus remains on building a sustainable project.”
“Appointing Xabi Alonso was a masterstroke, and allowing him to depart was a failure, but you cannot build a project in three months. I believe the supporters are frustrated by the methods, the timing, and the fact that he lacked the necessary authority to manage the squad,” he clarified.
Turning his attention to potential managerial targets, Jurgen Klopp was mentioned: “I am a huge admirer of his. He is a world-class manager, though there are others who also interest me. Of course, Klopp is currently committed to his role with Red Bull, but he is undoubtedly the type of profile I would love to see leading Real Madrid.”
“Real Madrid cannot afford to be a testing ground for managers. Arbeloa was arguably an experiment. When I state that the best must be recruited, I mean the best in every position. He may go on to be the best coach in the world, and I wish him well as a legendary Madrid player, but I believe the club needs, at this juncture, world-class managers who command absolute respect,” he concluded.
