Rafael Nadal eyeing Real Madrid presidency after tennis exit

• Rafael Nadal could be the new president of Real Madrid football club after his retirement
• Nadal is an ardent Real Madrid fan and his family has a deep history with the football club
• Nadal is a huge Real Madrid supporter, and there are strong rumours that he might be next in line to lead the Spanish football giant

In what is and will be the biggest sports twist, Rafael Nadal could be the new president of Real Madrid football club after his retirement from tennis in 2024.

Nadal is an ardent Real Madrid fan and his family has a deep history with the football club.

Miguel Angel Nadal, the football-loving uncle of the 22-time Grand Slam winner, had a distinguished football career that included a lengthy stay in Barcelona.

Besides, Nadal is a huge Real Madrid supporter, and there are strong rumours that he might be next in line to lead the Spanish football giant as president.

The club is currently under the stewardship of Florentino Perez, who insiders say is on his way out club after supervising the renovation of their Santiago Bernabéu stadium.

Rafael Nadal. Photo/Eurosport

According to Mundo Deportivo, the club has discounted these rumours citing that Perez is not exiting the club.

There are rumours that Perez who is Real Madrid’s 15th president is flirting with the idea of who would be the greatest replacement for him once the new stadium opens.

Nadal is currently out of the ATP Tour due to a hip injury that flared up at the Australian Open this year.

With his imminent retirement, there are strong signs that he is up for a new sports challenge beyond tennis.

Since the 2022 US Open Nadal has only participated played eight matches which was partly due to a longstanding foot injury which he once said is nearly incurable even if he quits tennis.

He will return in 2024 and play his last Grand Slam at the French Open where he will bid farewell to his fans and a sport he has played for over two decades.

The clay courts of Roland Garros are synonymous with his victories in yester years which had him nicknamed ‘King of Clay’.

Rafael Nadal. Photo/Inquirer Sports

Andy Roddick, a former world number one, said that the idea of Nadal becoming president of Real Madrid would send his post-tennis heart pounding.

He said that it is a big surprise but a fantastic one if it happens. Nadal first hinted at his ambition to lead the Broncos as club president in 2017 during an interview with Planet El.

The 37-year-old Spaniard said that he wouldn’t mind leading the club in future once an opportunity presents itself.

“If you ask me if I would like it, of course I would, why not? But there is more to it..we have a great president right now, and I don’t think Real Madrid needs me. But we never know what can happen in the future. It is not something I can raise today,” he stated at the time.

Should this happen, It will be a shocking move for one of the greatest tennis players in Spanish history, to switch his sports zeal from the court to the boardroom at the Bernabéu Stadium.