Real Madrid says Rafael Nadal will join its board, subject to members' approval

Real Madrid said in a statement that Rafael Nadal is to join its board of directors. The appointment is not final. It must still be put to the club's members for approval.

Nadal said in a social media post that he had accepted the offer. He thanked club president Florentino Perez and the board.

Nadal retired from tennis in 2024. He won 22 Grand Slam titles and two Olympic gold medals, and he won five Davis Cups with Spain.

Perez secured a new four-year term as president in June.

What is reported

According to Al Jazeera, the appointment was announced at a board meeting on Tuesday, and the club issued its statement on Wednesday. Al Jazeera also reported that the board agreed to submit the appointment to the General Assembly of Delegated Members. The BBC reported that members will be asked to approve it at a meeting later this month.

According to the BBC, Nadal, 40, was a boyhood Real Madrid fan and holds member's number 67,778. Al Jazeera reported that he is already an honorary member of the club.

Al Jazeera reported that Nadal has long been touted as a potential successor to Perez, although he has played down the prospect.

According to Al Jazeera, Perez, 79, won his new term in the club's first contested presidential election in two decades. More than a third of voting members backed challenger Enrique Riquelme, Al Jazeera said. The BBC reported that Perez has been president since 2009 and appointed Jose Mourinho to a second spell as head coach after his re-election.

According to the BBC, Real Madrid went a second season without winning La Liga, the Champions League or the Copa del Rey. The BBC reported that the team is third in the league after 11 games, three points behind defending champions Barcelona.

What each side says

Real Madrid called Nadal one of the greatest legends in the history of sport. The club said his qualities, including humility, respect for opponents and commitment to charity, mirror its own values. The BBC quoted the statement as saying: "It is a great source of pride that a figure of his sporting and human stature, a benchmark of Spanish and world sport, will become part of our board of directors and contribute, from this position of responsibility, to the present and future of our club."

The BBC quoted Nadal's post on X as saying: "I have accepted this proposal with great excitement, a desire to learn, and a willingness to contribute everything I can." Al Jazeera's wording of the post differs, and the reports do not explain why.

What is not known

The BBC says Nadal's responsibilities on the board are currently unclear. The reports do not include the length of his term or the exact date of the members' meeting.

Analysis

If members approve the appointment, its practical effect is likely to depend on a role the reports do not yet define. It could prove largely representative, or it could give Nadal a substantive part in running the club. The timing may also draw attention because it follows a contested presidential election, although the reports do not describe any link between the two. Al Jazeera notes that Nadal has been touted as a potential successor to Perez, but he has played down that prospect. The members' vote is the next step, and details of his role could clarify its significance.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.