Riquelme ‘to name’ Raul sporting director if elected at Real Madrid | OneFootball

Riquelme would appoint Raul as sporting director if he wins Real Madrid’s presidential election on 7 June. The candidate has begun setting out his blueprint for the club.

"I do not think he fits Real Madrid’s needs right now", he said of José Mourinho on Cadena SER’s El Larguero.

Riquelme and Raul are understood to have already discussed the role. The proposal is believed to have been considered at board level and viewed positively, despite some surprise around the idea.

Raul left the club in 2025 after five seasons in charge of the reserves, without a first-team chance. He has never hidden a desire to return, previously expected to do so on the bench. The coaching question is central to the campaign, with a Mourinho comeback linked for weeks and said to hinge on the re-election of Fiorentino Perez, and Riquelme plans to reveal his preferred coach this week.

He also reiterated an ambition to sign Ballon d’Or winner Rodri and said another international transfer is already being prepared. Asked about a new deal for Vinicius, whose contract runs to 30 June 2027, he said he could not answer for the Brazilian. Riquelme is not the favourite and trails Fiorentino Perez, who has led since 2009 after a first spell from 2000 to 2006.

Source: L'Équipe