Enrique Riquelme has officially begun his campaign for the Real Madrid presidency — and he wasted little time making his intentions clear.
Speaking at the opening of his campaign headquarters directly across from the Santiago Bernabéu, Riquelme presented himself as a candidate focused on both “legacy and future,” while also delivering pointed criticism toward the current direction of the club under Florentino Pérez.
Although he repeatedly emphasized that his campaign is “not against anyone, but in favor
of Real Madrid,” several of his comments carried unmistakable jabs at the current administration.
One of his first criticisms centered around the way Real Madrid’s history is represented publicly. Referring to banners displayed around the Bernabéu celebrating the club’s European Cups, Riquelme suggested that part of Madrid’s legacy has been overlooked.
“We respect the legacy,” he said, “but not only the seven European Cups shown on some banners. There are eight more, and they are also part of Real Madrid’s history.”
Riquelme also targeted the renovated Santiago Bernabéu, questioning whether the fan experience justifies the enormous financial investment made into the stadium transformation.
“After a €1.7 billion renovation, the seats are smaller and closer together,” he argued. “You have to leave your seat 10 minutes before halftime just to get a drink or a sandwich. Is this really what the renovation was supposed to be?”
Throughout his speech, Riquelme repeatedly returned to one central theme: the role of club members, or socios. He argued that ordinary members have gradually become disconnected from the institution despite being the foundation of the club’s identity.
“What are the benefits of being a Real Madrid member?” he asked rhetorically. “Beyond the honor of it and a discount on shirts, what do members really receive?”
He promised that the cornerstone of his campaign would be a major proposal aimed specifically at improving the experience and influence of socios. According to Riquelme, the project will be unveiled later this week and will represent the largest membership-focused initiative in club history.
“This Wednesday we will present the biggest transformational project for Real Madrid members in the club’s 120-year history,” he declared.
While many details of his broader sporting vision remain undisclosed, Riquelme insisted that he would not have entered the race without a strong footballing project behind him.
“We said during the pre-campaign that we would only run if we had a powerful and exciting sporting project for Real Madrid fans,” he said. “And we do.”
Another major talking point from his appearance was his public request for a direct debate with Florentino Pérez. Riquelme argued that Real Madrid needs genuine democratic discussion between competing visions for the club — something he believes has been absent for over two decades.
“It has been more than 20 years since Real Madrid had this kind of debate,” he said. “All the requirements have been fulfilled on our side. Now what we ask for is discussion. Debate. As many times as necessary, respectfully and constructively.”
Riquelme also referenced Spain’s national team while discussing the current sporting state of the club, noting that Real Madrid’s representation in La Roja has diminished dramatically.
“At most, if we are lucky, one Real Madrid player will be called up,” he said. “Meanwhile, our rivals will fill much of the squad.”
The comments appeared to tie into his broader message that Madrid must once again become the dominant force not only at club level, but also within Spanish football’s national identity.
The campaign launch marks the official beginning of what could become the most public and contested Real Madrid presidential race in years. Whether Riquelme can seriously threaten Florentino Pérez remains to be seen, but his opening day made one thing clear: he intends to challenge the current leadership openly, directly, and publicly.
