Jürgen Klopp has unexpectedly been included in a Real Madrid presidential candidate’s rebuilding plan, as the power struggle at the Bernabéu heats up ahead of election day.
The race for the Real Madrid presidency is heating up by the day ahead of this weekend’s election. While Florentino Pérez promises to bring in star Michael Olise if re-elected, his opponent Enrique Riquelme continues to play his strategic cards by publicly revealing the identity of the manager he wants to bring to the Santiago Bernabéu.
Previously, Riquelme had repeatedly hinted at completely overhauling the sporting structure if he defeats Pérez. And now, the 37-year-old candidate has confirmed that the chosen name is not José Mourinho, but Jürgen Klopp—one of the most successful managers in modern world football.
According to a statement published by Diario AS, Riquelme’s plan is tied to club legend Raúl González, who has been nominated for the sporting director position. “From the very first day he joined the project, Raúl proposed only one single name. It is a manager who has defined an entire era in world football.”
“He has won the Champions League, returning Liverpool to the pinnacle of Europe and England after decades of waiting, turned Dortmund into champions against financial giants, and left behind an identity, a fighting spirit, and a winning culture everywhere he has gone,” Riquelme stated.
Riquelme believes that Klopp would not only bring titles but also restore the values that Real Madrid has been lacking recently. “We are talking about a leader capable of bringing back to Real Madrid the match intensity, competitiveness, professionalism, team spirit, and winning culture that have always been the club’s identity.”
The candidate also admitted that persuading Klopp will not be simple. “We know Klopp has repeatedly stated that he does not want to return to the dugout in the short term and has rejected many offers. But Real Madrid is a different challenge. Because there are many big clubs in the world, but there is only one Real Madrid.”
Even so, the chances of this plan becoming a reality remain up in the air. Klopp has consistently dismissed all rumors of a return to management since leaving Liverpool and currently shows no signs of wanting a comeback. This means that if he wins the election, Riquelme will face an extremely difficult task to make the Klopp dream a reality.
