Tennis Legend Rafael Nadal to Join Real Madrid's Board of Directors

Real Madrid is set to welcome a distinguished figure from another sporting arena into its boardroom, with the appointment of 22-time Grand Slam tennis champion Rafael Nadal as a director slated for ratification by club members. The club's board has agreed to present Nadal's appointment to the General Assembly of Delegated Members. Nadal already holds honorary membership with the club.

"It is a source of immense pride for Real Madrid and for all our supporters that a figure of his sporting and personal stature… is to join our Board of Directors," Real Madrid stated on Wednesday. The club emphasized Nadal's remarkable sporting achievements, which include 92 singles titles, two Olympic gold medals, five Davis Cup victories with Spain, and reaching the world number one ranking.

According to the club, Nadal's qualities extend beyond his on-court accolades, encompassing humility, respect for opponents, and a commitment to charity, all of which align with Real Madrid's values. "All these values form part of Real Madrid’s identity, and Rafael Nadal has embodied and championed them throughout his sporting career," the statement read, following a board meeting on Tuesday.

Nadal expressed his gratitude for the invitation. "I would like to thank President Florentino Perez and the Board for inviting me to join the Board of Directors of Real Madrid," he posted on social media. "I have accepted this invitation with great enthusiasm, keen to learn and to contribute as much as I can." Nadal, who concluded his professional tennis career in November 2024, has previously been mentioned as a potential successor to Perez, though he has downplayed such speculation.

Perez, 79, secured another four-year term in June after Real Madrid's first presidential election with opposition in two decades. More than a third of voting members supported challenger Enrique Riquelme, who had voiced opposition to plans for external investment in the member-owned club.