In a bold move, the contender challenging Florentino Perez for the presidency of Real Madrid has pledged to bring Jurgen Klopp on board as manager if he secures victory in the election.
Enrique Riquelme, a 37-year-old who is seen as the underdog in the competition against the long-serving Perez, has identified the former Liverpool manager Klopp as his top choice for the role.
Meanwhile, Perez has already lined up Jose Mourinho, who is set to be announced as Real Madrid’s new head coach should Perez maintain his position after the election on Sunday.
Intriguingly, Riquelme has introduced Klopp into the conversation, despite the German’s clear stance of not wanting to return to coaching since leaving Liverpool in the summer of 2024.
Riquelme elaborated in a statement: “We are discussing one of the most outstanding coaches of our era. More importantly, he is a leader capable of reinstating the competitive vigor, daily rigor, professionalism, fair merit, cohesion in the squad, and commitment to excellence that have defined the most successful epochs in Real Madrid’s history.”
Jurgen Klopp is Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riqueleme’s choice as the club’s next boss
Enrique Riquelme (pictured) has pledged to sign Erling Haaland if he wins Real Madrid’s presidential election
“That coach is Jurgen Klopp. Although Klopp has openly declared he is not eager to return to the coaching scene soon and has declined several offers, we think the opportunity at Real Madrid presents a unique challenge. There are many great clubs, yet none quite like Real Madrid,” Riquelme explained.
Riquelme added that if he wins in the ballot of the club’s members on Sunday, ex-Real Madrid and Spain star Raul – who he has lined up as his sporting director – would immediately contact Klopp about the job on Monday.
Raul will ‘personally convey our sporting project and our desire for him to lead Real Madrid into a new era from the bench’, Riquelme said in a statement.
Klopp, 58, has been linked with various roles, including at Real and the German national team, but is yet to be tempted into a comeback after stunning the football world with his decision to depart Anfield.
The development is the latest in a public campaign which has seen Perez vow to sign a €150million (£130m) attacking player for Mourinho, and Riquelme spark a threat of legal action from City with his promise about landing Haaland.
Riquelme boldly held up a Madrid shirt with Haaland’s name on the back during a campaign appearance on television earlier this week.
Man City have reacted furiously to Riquelme’s act and stated that the club are considering legal action.
‘The stories which have emerged from Spain regarding the future of Erling Haaland are untrue,’ a club spokesperson said.
‘There is no chance of this happening and there is no contractual clause to enable it. We are considering legal action for the use of our player image in this context.’
Perez, who has been at Madrid since 2009, has moved to appoint Mourinho for a second stint in charge, after the Portuguese led Los Blancos between 2010 and 2013 – but the veteran manager’s move from Benfica to the Bernabeu is yet to be formally announced.
But his official campaign social media pages still posted a video on Wednesday night captioned: ‘So much history to make’ with Mourinho front and centre.
It featured the words: ‘While on TV they talk, and talk, and talk…’ and then saw Mourinho appear as he said, in Spanish ‘yes’ in a quasi-unveiling.
Jose Mourinho (right) will be the new Real Madrid manager if Florentino Perez (left) is re-elected
Mourinho’s new contract is believed to run until the summer of 2028, and will include an option to extend by a further year.
The 63-year-old, who hasn’t won a league title in 11 years, will step into a crisis club after a season clouded by in-fighting between players, an early Champions League exit, and Barcelona steaming to the LaLiga title.
Perez has reportedly set his sights on three players to become his most expensive ‘Galatico’ of all time.
According to Spanish outlet AS, Olise is one of the three candidates being considered by Real Madrid, despite Perez’s denials, along with PSG duo Joao Neves and Vitinha, who have been central to PSG winning back-to-back Champions League titles.
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