Today, Sunday, June 7, 2026, Real Madrid members are casting their votes in the club’s first genuinely competitive presidential election in nearly two decades. The contest pits current president Florentino Pérez against young businessman and long-time club member Enrique Riquelme.
Florentino Pérez: Continuing the Galácticos Era
Pérez, 79, enters the election with a remarkable record of success at Real Madrid. His campaign is focused on maintaining the club’s major projects, financial strength, and global influence.
His key promises include:
Bringing José Mourinho back as head coach if re-elected.
Completing the signings of Denzel Dumfries and Ibrahima Konaté.
Submitting a €150 million bid for a new Galáctico-level star next week.
Expanding the Bernabéu’s digital transformation project and investing in AI and VR technology.
Enrique Riquelme: Revolution or Ambitious Dream?
On the other side, Riquelme has positioned himself as the candidate of change. At 37 years old, he wants to give club members greater influence and reshape Real Madrid’s leadership structure.
His promises have attracted worldwide attention:
Signing Erling Haaland.
Signing Rodri.
Convincing Jürgen Klopp to become head coach.
Giving former Real Madrid legends such as Raúl González, Iker Casillas, and Vicente del Bosque leadership roles within the club.
Protecting the club’s 100% member ownership against any possibility of selling a stake to outside investors.
However, some of his promises have been met with skepticism. Reports have already indicated that Klopp’s camp has stated he has no intention of returning to club management at this time.
Who Is the Favorite to Win?
According to various analyses, Pérez appears to hold a significant advantage due to his successful track record, institutional support within the club, and backing from a large portion of the membership.
Nevertheless, Riquelme has presented the strongest challenge Pérez has faced in more than 20 years. This is the first time since 2006 that a Real Madrid presidential election has featured genuine competition.
If members prioritize stability, experience, and the continuation of current projects, Florentino Pérez is widely viewed as the expected winner.
But if members decide that the time for change has arrived and are inspired by promises involving Haaland, Rodri, and governance reforms, Enrique Riquelme could achieve one of the most significant political upsets in Real Madrid’s modern history.
