Rafael Nadal addresses post-retirement life and potential presidency of Real Madrid
8:37 PM EST, February 15, 2024
In a conversation with COPE radio, Rafael Nadal did not outright reject the idea, although his words did not particularly indicate a potential future as the president of Real Madrid. The star player underscored that he would never be an adversary to the current club president, Florentino Perez.
"Being President of Real Madrid is not in my life plan. But if circumstances change in the future, and life provides such an opportunity... I am a huge fan of Real Madrid and football. I will certainly never rival Florentino Perez; he is an exceptional man for Real Madrid. He has achieved great things in challenging times," Rafael Nadal complimented the current president of the Royals.
The conversation then turned towards the tennis champion's passion for the club, specifically this football division. The discussion covered a few topics concerning the current operation of Real Madrid. This included topical questions such as potential future acquisitions, specifically French footballer Kylian Mbappe.
"Thankfully, I'm not the one who needs to make that decision. In my view, even before considering injuries, Real Madrid already has an excellent team. With Mbappe, they would be phenomenal. If I had the power, I would bring him to Madrid," says Rafael Nadal.
Nadal also spoke highly of the current coach of the Royals, Carlo Ancelotti, as well as the team's brightest players, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham. "What Jude has accomplished after joining the club at 20 is simply spectacular," the 37-year-old remarked.
Due to recurrent injuries, Rafael Nadal has been sidelined from competition. The Spaniard's ultimate dream is to compete in the Olympic Games on the clay courts at Roland Garros, a venue dear to his heart. However, as time goes on, the return of the victorious athlete to peak performance is in question.