Enrique Riquelme: Real Madrid Elections Showed There Is an Alternative

Enrique Riquelme, who challenged Florentino Pérez for the Real Madrid presidency, declared that the recent elections proved the existence of a viable alternative. Despite losing to Pérez, who secured 65 percent of the vote compared to Riquelme's 35 percent, Riquelme vowed to remain a voice for members who believe the club should stay under their ownership.

“

This is not over. We will continue to be the voice of those who believe Real Madrid must remain its members' club.

"This is not over. We will continue to be the voice of those who believe Real Madrid must remain its members' club," Riquelme stated on his X account. He congratulated Pérez on his victory and extended an offer to open a debate on the future of the club's identity, a topic many members have reportedly called for.

Riquelme, 37, highlighted that his campaign, fueled by enthusiasm, managed to rally thousands of members and achieve a significant portion of the vote. "We have demonstrated something that no one can deny: there is an alternative. There is a future. There is a different way to build, to listen, and to put the member at the center. We have all won," he expressed.

“

We have demonstrated something that no one can deny: there is an alternative. There is a future. There is a different way to build, to listen, and to put the member at the center. We have all won.

Official results show Pérez received 21,721 votes, while Riquelme garnered 11,814 votes from a total of 75,214 eligible members. Riquelme, head of the energy company Cox, added, "One should never be afraid of the ballot box, nor of listening." He concluded his message with a video of a young fan in a Real Madrid jersey, asserting, "The child in the photo still believes. And now there are many more of us."

“

One should never be afraid of the ballot box, nor of listening.