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Real Madrid Holds First Contested Presidential Vote in 20 Years

The member ballot will decide the club’s president and shape coaching hires, major transfer plans and a proposal to allow a small outside investor stake.

Overview

  • About 70,000 club members are voting at Ciudad Real Madrid in Valdebebas on Sunday, June 7, and both Florentino Pérez and Enrique Riquelme have already cast their ballots.
  • Incumbent Florentino Pérez has campaigned on continuity, promising to bring José Mourinho back as coach and to fund large transfers if re-elected.
  • Benfica told Portugal’s market regulator that Real Madrid would pay €15 million to secure Mourinho’s release if Pérez wins, a payment that links the election to inter-club coaching moves.
  • Challenger Enrique Riquelme has pitched Jürgen Klopp as his choice for coach and vowed to pursue players such as Erling Haaland and Rodri while accusing Pérez of seeking to allow a small investor stake that he calls privatization.
  • These elections, the first competitive vote in two decades, come after two trophyless seasons for Real Madrid and will determine both the club’s sporting direction and whether its member-run governance allows limited external investment.