Real Madrid: Who is Enrique Riquelme, the Valencian businessman Florentino Pérez fears? | OneFootball

Florentino Pérez sprang an unexpected press conference on Tuesday, castigating media groups and journalists before homing in on Enrique Riquelme. He depicted him as an energy entrepreneur with a Mexican accent who appears keen to run, and said he would call elections this year so there are candidates.

"Two years ago we had a serious, concrete proposal, but the elections were brought forward and we did not have time to stand. We thought they would be in summer, after the season ended, but they were not," he told El Periódico in 2023.

Riquelme is Spanish, from the Comunitat Valenciana. Enrique Riquelme Vives, 37, is an Alicante-born entrepreneur from Cox whose Grupo Cox integrates Cox Energy and Cox Water. He has been a Real Madrid socio for 20 years.

He launched Grupo El Sol in Panama in 2010. Projects now span Spain, Portugal and several Latin American countries, notably Mexico. The group is listed and has earned awards, also featuring in Forbes.

Riquelme, the son of a director from the Ramón Calderón era, could now be ready to run and may not do so alone, with David Mesonero of Iberdrola linked as an ally. His push for a succession debate in January, after Xabi Alonso was sacked, prompted a snap election call, and since then the pair have worked to assemble a board to file an alternative ticket within the next 10 days.

To run, a candidate must be Spanish and a member for 20 uninterrupted years. Board members need 10 years, rising to 15 for the vice president. They must also guarantee 15% of the budget, about 187 million euros, secured solely against their own assets.

Pérez does not need to step aside, remaining fully empowered until any successor is sworn in. In theory he could still make major decisions, even dismissing Arbeloa and hiring Mourinho.

Source: Superdeporte