Real Madrid Presidential candidate announces Raul Gonzalez as Sporting Director | OneFootball

Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme has put his first name on the table in his campaign to oust Florentino Perez, confirming that legendary forward Raul Gonzalez would be a key part of his project. Raul has been out of the game since leaving Real Madrid Castilla last summer.

It was thought that Raul would embark on a managerial career after five years at Castilla, but so far has not found a project that he is interested in. There was some suggestion that he was holding out for the senior job, but Perez decided to go in a different direction, and replaced him with Alvaro Arbeloa last summer, who did get the senior job in January, after Xabi Alonso was dismissed.

Enrique Riquelme announces Raul as Sporting Director

During an interview with Cadena SER, Riquelme had the following to say on the sporting director role, one that has not existed for some time at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“Yes, I’ve already finalised the deal. He’s Spanish. For this project, and given the club’s current situation, we need to return to those values, to that Madridismo, to the DNA. It has to be a Real Madrid legend, supported by top professionals, someone who has played for Real Madrid in over 740 matches, 16 seasons, scored over 300 goals, and earned over 100 caps for the national team… No one knows the Bernabru better. And that’s the person we’ve chosen. He’s the right person to lead a sporting project like the one coming to Real Madrid. It’s Raul Gonzalez Blanco. If I’m president, Raul will be Real Madrid’s sporting director.”

Riquelme on Rodri signing and Mourinho

Riquelme has declared previously that he wants a player ‘like Rodri’ Hernandez of Manchester City to join the club, and that he has two star signings and a manager already lined up. The Spanish entrepeneur has confirmed one of those star signings is Spanish, while he distanced himself from the idea of appointing Mikel Arteta. When asked about Mourinho, he was ‘not what Real Madrid needed at this point’ – the Portuguese is expected to be appointed by Perez if he is re-elected. On Rodri, Riquelme had the following to say.