Take note, Mourinho and Benfica! Riquelme on Real plans: We have names... | OneFootball

Enrique Riquelme unveiled some of the most relevant points of his election manifesto. With just over two weeks to go before the Real Madrid elections, the candidate set to run against Florentino Pérez spoke about his plans for the club, both structurally and in sporting terms, without revealing any names, including that of José Mourinho, Benfica's coach.

"In recent days, as I was weighing up whether to run or not, I placed emphasis on the economic side, the sporting side and, above all, the social side that we have been developing since previous years. Back in 2021, I said that many things would resemble what we are going to present. The economic aspect has also been talked about a lot in recent days. It is not easy, in Spain, to run for the position of Real Madrid president. With other issues resolved, and with clarity about where we were heading, we also know what we want in sporting terms", the candidate began by saying.

"We were very clear about that. But in such a short time it is very difficult. It is true, we were preparing something for 2028/2029, when the elections were to be held. But you do not sign players today for 2029, or for 2028. The team’s needs, in sporting terms, are different. The coach has to be the sporting director; they are different profiles and different stages. Especially when you have a Barcelona with academy players, Spanish academy players, who are making a big impression", he added. Riquelme blocked Mourinho’s arrival with his candidacy.

"We obviously have a sporting project and I can confirm that we have important names who will be arriving. The best players Real Madrid need right now will arrive, and as for sporting professionalisation... In that area, it is clear that Real Madrid must have a sporting director. And it must have a professional plan, not only for the first team, but also for the academy", he pointed out, without revealing identities.

"It cannot be the case that we lack players coming through our academy, while other clubs in Spain, some of whom we compete with directly, fill the national team with Spanish players produced by their academies. And we would like that to be the foundation of the academy. Professionalisation in that regard needs to improve. And then work up to the first team. Real Madrid must return to having the values it has always had", Enrique Riquelme concluded.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.