Candidate for Real Madrid presidency shifts focus from Mourinho, aims to bring Klopp to the Bernabéu

With the Real Madrid presidential race heating up, candidate Enrique Riquelme surprised many by declaring his intention to appoint Jürgen Klopp as head coach should he unseat current president Florentino Pérez.

Riquelme, aged 37, is seen as the only serious challenger to Pérez in the power struggle at the Bernabéu. Earlier, he made headlines by promising to bring striker Erling Haaland to Real Madrid if elected. Now, the Spanish businessman has made another shocking statement, placing Jürgen Klopp at the center of his campaign strategy.

According to Riquelme’s announced plan, former Real Madrid star Raúl González would take on the role of sporting director. If Riquelme wins the election scheduled for next Sunday, Raúl will immediately contact Klopp to persuade the German tactician to take over the coaching bench at Real Madrid.

"We are talking about one of the greatest coaches of our time. More importantly, he is a manager capable of restoring Real Madrid’s competitive spirit, professionalism, unity in the dressing room, and the winning culture that defined the club’s most glorious periods," Riquelme emphasized.

However, this is no easy task. Klopp has repeatedly stated that he has no intention of returning to coaching after leaving Liverpool in the summer of 2024. The 58-year-old has turned down numerous attractive offers, including rumored links with the German national team and several top European clubs.

Riquelme acknowledges this but believes Real Madrid is a special case. "There are many great clubs in the world, but there is only one Real Madrid," he declared.

Meanwhile, Florentino Pérez remains the frontrunner for victory. According to multiple sources in Spain, if he retains the presidency, he will officially appoint José Mourinho as Real Madrid’s head coach.

Mourinho managed Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013 and is reportedly set to return to the Bernabéu on a contract extending until 2028, with an option for an additional year. Although the club has not made an official announcement, media channels linked to Pérez’s campaign have been steadily releasing content hinting at the Portuguese tactician’s comeback.

Mourinho is expected to help Real Madrid overcome a difficult period following a turbulent season marked by internal conflicts, an early exit from the Champions League, and Barcelona’s convincing La Liga title win.

Alongside the battle for the coaching position, the transfer market has become a hot topic in the election campaign. While Riquelme has stirred controversy by publicly promising to bring Haaland to the Bernabéu, Pérez is reportedly pursuing a blockbuster deal worth around €150 million.

Notably, Riquelme’s remarks about Haaland have drawn a strong reaction from Manchester City. The English club even stated that it is considering legal measures after the candidate appeared on television wearing a Real Madrid shirt with Haaland’s name on the back.

A Manchester City spokesperson insisted that reports of Haaland moving to Real Madrid are completely unfounded, emphasizing that no clause exists to allow such a transfer.

According to Spanish media, besides Haaland, Real Madrid is also tracking several other major targets, including Michael Olise and PSG’s duo Joao Neves and Vitinha.

The Real Madrid presidential election is therefore not just a power struggle between Pérez and Riquelme, but also a competition of ambitious promises regarding the future of the Spanish royal club.