Rafael Nadal refutes links to Real Madrid presidency

Tennis legend Rafael Nadal shot down reports that he is a candidate for the president's position at global soccer powerhouse Real Madrid.

"I have read reports that link me to possible candidacies for the presidency of Real Madrid. I would like to clarify that these reports are not true," the 22-time Grand Slam winner posted Wednesday on X, translated from Spanish.

Nadal, who turns 40 next month, retired from the ATP Tour in 2024 after winning 92 singles titles and Olympic gold medals in singles (2008) and doubles (2016).

Speculation about his interest at Real Madrid surged after current president Florentino Perez called for an election on Tuesday despite having a term that runs through 2029. Perez, 79, has run unopposed in the past five elections dating back to 2009.

Nadal has addressed a possible future at Real Madrid many times over the years.

"Everyone knows I'm a football fanatic and Real Madrid is my team. Speaking about that now is a utopia, but if you ask me, of course I would like to be president," he said in 2017.

"I think so. I think I would like to be (president)," Nadal said in 2023. "But first of all, lots of things. First of all, today there is nothing to say because we have the best president possible. Afterwards, I don't know if what I could think now is what I could think tomorrow. And afterwards, life takes many turns."

In November, Nadal appeared less committed to the idea in an interview with The Athletic. "I don't think so, but maybe -- you never know in the future, you never know, and we need to wait for that," he said.

--Field Level Media