Tennis great Rafael Nadal set to join Real Madrid board

What the report says

Real Madrid are preparing to add former tennis star Rafael Nadal to its board of directors, with the appointment due to be presented to the club’s General Assembly of Delegated Members for ratification, according to Al Jazeera’s report based on Reuters. The club said the board approved putting the move to members on Tuesday, and described Nadal as already being an honorary member.

The announcement brings one of Spain’s best-known athletes into the governance of the football club he has long supported. Real Madrid said Nadal’s career achievements and personal qualities, including humility, respect and charitable work, fit the club’s identity. Nadal, who retired from tennis in November 2024, responded that he accepted the invitation with enthusiasm and wanted to contribute and learn.

Real Madrid highlighted Nadal’s record of 92 singles titles, two Olympic gold medals, five Davis Cup victories and time as world number one. The report also noted that he has often been mentioned as a possible future leader at the club, though he has downplayed that idea.

The move comes during Florentino Perez’s continued presidency. Perez secured another four-year term in June after a contested election, in which challenger Enrique Riquelme opposed outside investment plans. If approved, Nadal’s addition would further link one of Spain’s most successful sports figures with one of its most prominent football institutions.