MADRID — Real Madrid’s rival presidential candidates made their boldest moves yet on Wednesday, as Enrique Riquelme promised to sign Erling Haaland and Rodri if he’s elected, and rival Florentino Pérez confirmed José Mourinho as his chosen coach.
In a vote on Sunday, Madrid’s members will choose between renewable energy entrepreneur Riquelme, 37, and Pérez, 79, who has led the club for 23 of the last 26 years.
The ballot will be the club’s first contested election since 2006, and comes after the team completed two consecutive seasons without winning a major trophy.
In a TV appearance on popular Antena 3 show “El Hormiguero” on Wednesday, Riquelme — who previously announced club legends Raul Gonzalez and Fernando Hierro as his sporting director and academy chief respectively — said he would pay members’ membership costs if he failed to sign Haaland and Rodri from Manchester City.
Read more:Real Madrid presidential candidate: I have ‘two international stars’ I will sign if elected
“If I break my promises regarding either of these players, I’ve signed a guarantee where I’d pay 100% of membership costs for next season,” Riquelme said. “Haaland has a release clause, and he wants to come to Madrid.”
Haaland has a contract with Madrid with Man City through 2034, with sources telling ESPN when it was signed in January 2025 that it was among the most lucrative in sports history. ESPN also reported that the new deal removed buyout clauses that were included in his contract when he arrived from Borussia Dortmund in 2022.
Last week, Riquelme told ESPN that Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who has a year remaining on his Man City contract, is “the kind of player who should play for Real Madrid.”
“He’s a great player, in a position where Madrid need to strengthen,” he added on Wednesday. “We’ve spoken to his agent, we have to respect his club, but if I’m president he’ll play for Madrid. I’ll do everything possible.”
Read more:Man City ‘should be angry’ after not winning Premier League – Erling Haaland
Meanwhile, in a social media post on Wednesday night, Pérez’s campaign confirmed that Mourinho, who previously coached Madrid between 2010 and 2013, will return as coach if Pérez wins Sunday’s vote.
A brief video showed a smiling Mourinho, in a Real Madrid shirt, saying “yes.”
MOUcha historia por hacer. pic.twitter.com/7wLmDk8r2M
— Florentino 2026 (@Florentino2026_) June 3, 2026
In an interview with Diario AS, Pérez also said that Ibrahima Konaté would join Madrid under his presidency.
ESPN reported on Tuesday that Madrid were close to an agreement with Konaté, who is a free agent after leaving Liverpool.
“One of the world’s best defenders, Konaté, will play for Real Madrid next season,” Pérez told AS. “And he won’t be the only great defender who will arrive if I’m still in charge.”
