Decisive Election Day for Real Madrid: Both Candidates Have Cast Their Votes

After two decades without an electoral vote, Real Madrid members once again headed to the polls to elect the club's leadership. From the early hours of the day, the basketball pavilion at the club's sports complex welcomed thousands of supporters, indicating exceptionally high interest in the vote. These are, in essence, the first elections since July 2, 2006, where "Los Blancos" fans have had the opportunity to choose between two candidacies and different platforms. In 2006, Ramón Calderón defeated Juan Palacios in a fiercely contested race. In June 2009, the current head of the "royal club" returned to power.

Current president Florentino Pérez arrived shortly before 10:00 AM and was met with numerous greetings, photo requests, and expressions of support. After casting his vote, he remained for over three hours among club members, who continuously sought to meet with him.

His opponent, Enrique Riquelme, also received significant attention upon his arrival at the venue. The businessman from Alicante was welcomed by his sympathizers and used the opportunity to deliver a message of change and greater transparency in the club's management.

“These are not ordinary elections. They are a kind of referendum on the future of Real Madrid,” Riquelme stated to the media. He pledged to fulfill all commitments from his electoral program, including measures in the sporting, social, and financial spheres.

Despite the high temperatures and a busy weekend in the Spanish capital, voter turnout remained strong throughout the day. Voting continued until 8:00 PM, after which the counting of ballots began in one of the most anticipated election days in the club's history.