Riquelme claims two signings secured as he challenges Perez for Real Madrid presidency

Enrique Riquelme, the challenger to Florentino Perez in Real Madrid’s first presidential election in two decades, has claimed he has already secured two international signings ahead of the June 7 vote. The businessman submitted a €187m bank guarantee on Saturday to formalise his candidacy.

Speaking as part of his campaign launch, Riquelme set an ambitious tone. “We will present, by far, the greatest project for the members in 120 years – the greatest transformational project in Real Madrid’s history,” he said, as quoted by Diario AS. On the transfer front, he added: “We have signed two international stars. Two major international stars will play for Real Madrid,” indicating he expects to reveal their identities in the coming weeks.

Riquelme has wasted little time targeting Perez’s record in office. He criticised the Santiago Bernabéu renovation, which has run well over its original budget, questioning the outcome directly: “Seats packed closer together, smaller — you have to leave 10 minutes before halftime just to buy a drink and a snack… Is this the renovation after €1.7 billion?”

He also challenged Perez to a public debate over the incumbent’s proposal to sell a percentage of the club and convert members into shareholders. “Let him bring forward his privatisation proposal, and I will be able to debate our views on it,” Riquelme said in an interview with ABC, via Cadena Cope. “And based on that, the members will be able to decide.”

On the club’s finances, Riquelme accused Perez of “always putting the members last” and questioned the allocation of €45m per year to RMTV, part of a broader argument that the club is losing €80m annually when asset sales are excluded.

In terms of the dugout, RadioMarca report that Riquelme’s preferred managerial target is Jürgen Klopp, whom he described as “a good manager and a good coach.” He also called the failure to appoint Xabi Alonso an error. Should Klopp prove unattainable, the more realistic option is reported to be Raul Gonzalez, the club legend who has been without a job since leaving Real Madrid Castilla in 2025.