‘We have stopped the sale of the club’ – Enrique Riquelme refuses to give up after losing Real Madrid presidency race | OneFootball

Florentino Perez secured another term as Real Madrid president after comfortably defeating challenger Enrique Riquelme in the club’s latest presidential election. 

However, despite the result, Riquelme made it clear that he has no intention of disappearing from the conversation surrounding the club’s future.

Speaking after the final outcome was confirmed, the presidential candidate acknowledged Perez’s victory while simultaneously positioning his own campaign as the start of a longer journey rather than a failed attempt.

Vows to continue the fight

While Perez will continue to lead Real Madrid into a new era, Riquelme believes his candidacy has already achieved an important objective by creating debate and offering members an alternative vision.

Speaking after the election, Riquelme first congratulated the victorious president before outlining why he considers the campaign a success despite the defeat.

“I would like to congratulate Florentino. For us, this is not the end. It is the beginning. 

Riquelme lost to Florentino Perez. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

“The members will not go another 20 years without voting. We have stopped the sale of the club.”

The challenger also expressed pride in what his team had managed to build in a relatively short period.

“This is a great victory for our campaign; in such a short space of time, we have managed to put forward a serious, committed, professional and inspiring bid.”

More from Riquelme

Throughout the election process, Riquelme attempted to position himself as a candidate focused on increasing member involvement and encouraging greater discussion around the club’s direction.

Following the result, he reiterated that commitment and extended an offer of cooperation to the newly re-elected president.

Riquelme will continue his fight. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

“I extend my hand as I did when I launched this campaign, with the utmost respect for Real Madrid, in this case its president, and its legacy. 

“I extend my hand to continue the debate we have not yet had, so that ideas can be taken on board and the members’ voices heard.”

Although Riquelme’s campaign may not have delivered the presidency, it appears to have established a platform that he intends to build upon in the coming years. 

Rather than stepping away after defeat, he is positioning himself as a representative of members who want a stronger voice in the club’s future.

“We now feel a duty to speak on behalf of all Real Madrid members, who in such a short space of time have allowed us to put our candidacy forward, and we have a duty to press ahead,” he concluded.

Source: AS