Nadal Denies Real Madrid Presidency Bid

Rafael Nadal, the retired tennis star and lifelong Real Madrid supporter, dismissed speculation on Wednesday that he is eyeing a candidacy for the club's presidency, hours after incumbent Florentino Perez called for new leadership elections.

In a post on social media, Nadal addressed reports linking him to a potential bid backed by businessman Enrique Riquelme, the chief executive of renewable energy firm Cox Energy. "I have read reports that link me as a possible candidate for the Real Madrid presidency," Nadal wrote. "I would like to clarify that these reports are not true." He emphasized his respect for Perez, who has led the club since 2000 and won re-election unopposed in the past five votes. "Although I have a good relationship with [Riquelme], I have enormous respect for Florentino and everything that he is," Nadal added.

The rumors surfaced amid Real Madrid's challenging season, capped by a loss to Barcelona that allowed the rivals to defend their La Liga title. Perez, 79, held a rare press conference Tuesday at the club's Valdebebas training ground, his first since 2018. He rejected calls to resign, denied health rumors including false claims of terminal cancer, and...