Real Madrid CF presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme has officially launched his campaign with a sweeping proposal aimed at reconnecting supporters with the club through a major redevelopment of the Valdebebas training complex.
Riquelme, a renewable energy entrepreneur, is challenging long-serving president Florentino Perez in the club’s first contested presidential election in two decades.
The 37-year-old presented plans on Wednesday for a project called “La Ciudad del Socio," or “The Members’ City," which would transform the current training ground into a large-scale recreational and sporting destination for club members.
Pools, padel courts and a new arena in proposal
According to the BBC, Riquelme’s proposal, the Valdebebas complex, would feature swimming pools, tennis and padel courts, football pitches, gyms, basketball courts, and hospitality facilities, including an exclusive hotel.
The project also includes plans for a 15,000-seat indoor arena that would host concerts and serve as the new home for Real Madrid’s basketball team.
Riquelme said the idea is designed to restore a closer relationship between supporters and the club, arguing that members have gradually become disconnected from decision-making and club culture over the years.
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Membership reforms central to campaign
According to the BBC, alongside the infrastructure project, Riquelme promised major reforms to club membership policies.
He pledged to reduce membership fees by 50 percent and create 10,000 season tickets through a lottery system aimed at shortening the long waiting list faced by many supporters hoping to attend matches regularly.
The candidate also criticised Perez’s proposal to create a subsidiary structure that would allow outside investors to acquire a five percent stake in the club.
According to Riquelme, the move risks weakening Real Madrid’s traditional member-owned identity.
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Perez faces growing scrutiny after trophyless run
According to the BBC, Perez, who has led the club since 2009 following an earlier spell between 2000 and 2006, recently announced the presidential election during an extraordinary press conference in which he criticised sections of the media and La Liga.
The veteran president has come under pressure after overseeing two consecutive trophyless seasons despite significant spending and squad investment.
Riquelme has positioned his campaign as an attempt to restore what he describes as the club’s original spirit as a member-driven institution.
