MADRID — Tennis legend Rafael Nadal is poised to join the leadership of Real Madrid, stepping into a governance role at the soccer club he has supported since childhood, the Spanish team announced Wednesday.
The club’s directors met Wednesday and formally agreed to put forward Nadal’s appointment to the general assembly of delegate members for ratification, according to an official statement from Real Madrid. The vote from delegates is expected later this month, BBC reported.
A Lifelong Fan Joins Club Leadership
Nadal, who is 40 and retired from professional tennis in 2024, has been registered as club member number 67,778 and holds honorary membership status with the 15-time European champions. Despite his uncle Miguel Ángel Nadal having played as a defender for fierce rival Barcelona, Nadal has been an outspoken and visible backer of Real Madrid throughout his life, frequently watching games from the stands at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.
In a public statement, Real Madrid called Nadal “one of the greatest legends in the history of sport and one of the most admired and recognized Spanish athletes in the world.”
The club said having a figure of his athletic and personal stature join the boardroom serves as a source of tremendous pride, adding that his presence will contribute directly to the organization’s present and future.
“I have accepted this proposal with great excitement, a desire to learn, and a willingness to contribute everything I can.”
— Rafael Nadal
Nadal addressed the news on social media, posting a photo of himself as a young boy wearing a full Real Madrid kit alongside an image at the Bernabéu. “I want to thank President Florentino Pérez and the board for proposing that I join the board of directors of Real Madrid,” Nadal wrote on X.
Transition From the Court to Governance
Nadal stepped away from tour competition two years ago following an illustrious career that included 22 Grand Slam singles championships — highlighted by a record 14 titles at the French Open — along with two Olympic gold medals and five Davis Cup victories representing Spain.
His appointment follows speculation earlier in 2026 regarding potential interest in the Real Madrid presidency, rumors that Nadal publicly dismissed at the time, according to ClutchPoints. Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, who has led the club since 2009, secured a new four-year mandate in June, BBC reported.
Pérez brought back José Mourinho for a second tenure as head coach over the summer after Real Madrid endured two consecutive seasons without capturing La Liga, the Champions League, or the Copa del Rey, according to BBC. Through 11 matches this season, Madrid sits in third place in La Liga, trailing leader Barcelona by three points.
Specific corporate duties and daily responsibilities that Nadal will assume within the board remain unspecified. Nadal noted in an interview with The Associated Press this week that retirement has remained hectic with frequent travel, commercial obligations, and fatherhood, as well as preparations for an upcoming exhibition match in Las Vegas.
The appointment will become official once the delegate assembly convenes to formally cast its ratification vote.
