Should the Real Madrid chief be worried? A challenger emerges to dethrone him

Thirty-seven-year-old Riquelme has until Saturday to formally submit his candidacy. In the ongoing process, he would become the first challenger to long-serving Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez.

Pérez announced on May 12th that club members would be electing a new president, and he has since confirmed his intention to run again. Candidates must have been a club member for at least 20 years. They are also required to provide a guarantee of €187 million, equivalent to 15 percent of the club's annual budget, all of which must be backed by personal assets. If there is more than one candidate, the electoral commission will organize a vote.

Riquelme is the president of the water and energy company Cox. According to AFP, he has already sent a letter to the electoral commission expressing his willingness to run, which was subsequently published by several local newspapers. The 79-year-old Pérez was first elected in 2000, successfully overseeing the "Galácticos" era before stepping down in 2006.

He returned three years later as the sole candidate and was re-elected unopposed in 2013, 2017, 2021, and 2025. Since his return, "Los Blancos" have won five league titles and six Champions League trophies. However, the club finished this season without a trophy for the first time since the 2020/2021 campaign.