Rafael Nadal has joined the board of directors at Real Madrid, with the LaLiga club hailing the 22-time Grand Slam champion as a role model and the Spaniard saying he accepted the proposal with excitement and a desire to learn.
Real Madrid said on Wednesday that its board had agreed to submit to the general assembly of delegate members the ratification of the appointment of Nadal, described as member number 67,778 of the club. The club said his new position was a "great source of pride".
"His figure represents much more than his successes: his talent, his constant drive to improve, his capacity for sacrifice, his competitiveness, his humility, his respect for rivals and teammates, and his commitment to solidarity make him an example both on and off the court," the club said. "All these values are part of Real Madrid's identity and Rafael Nadal has represented and defended them throughout his sporting life, becoming a role model for millions of people around the world."
Nadal, who already serves as an honorary member of the club, thanked president Florentino Perez and the board for proposing the role in a post on X. “I have accepted this proposal with great excitement, a desire to learn, and a willingness to contribute everything I can,” he wrote.
Real Madrid is a member-owned club with around 100,000 members and holds elections every four years, with presidential candidates needing 20 years of continuous membership to qualify. It is widely seen as the most valuable football club in the world.
Nadal won 92 individual titles across his career, including two Olympic gold medals and 22 Grand Slams, and is regarded as one of the “Big Three” alongside Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Nadal, one of the most decorated athletes in tennis history, now holds a formal governance position at one of the world's most prominent football clubs.
- The appointment still requires ratification by the general assembly of delegate members, giving the club's membership a direct say.
- It extends Nadal's public role from sport into club administration, pairing his standing as a sporting icon with institutional responsibility.
Background
Real Madrid is a member-owned club with roughly 100,000 members and holds presidential elections every four years, with candidates required to hold 20 years of continuous membership. Nadal, already an honorary member, is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, with a career spanning 92 individual titles.
Key Perspectives
Real Madrid: described Nadal's appointment as a "great source of pride" and said his values make him an example both on and off the court.
Rafael Nadal: thanked the president and board for proposing the role and said he accepted "with great excitement, a desire to learn, and a willingness to contribute everything I can."
What to Watch
- Whether the general assembly of delegate members ratifies Nadal's appointment.
- What Nadal's contributions to the board will focus on, as he said he is approaching the role with a desire to learn.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- Partly supportedRafael Nadal has joined Real Madrid’s board of directors.City AM: “The board of directors of Real Madrid CF meeting has agreed to submit to the general assembly of delegate members the ratification of the appointment of Rafael Nadal Parera”
- SupportedThe appointment is to be put before the club’s general assembly for ratification.City AM: “The board of directors of Real Madrid CF meeting has agreed to submit to the general assembly of delegate members the ratification of the appointment of Rafael Nadal Parera”
- SupportedReal Madrid described Nadal as a role model and said his sporting values represent the club’s identity.City AM: “All these values are part of Real Madrid’s identity and Rafael Nadal has represented and defended them throughout his sporting life, becoming a role model for millions of people around the world.”
- SupportedNadal said he accepted the proposal with excitement, a desire to learn and a willingness to contribute.City AM: ““I have accepted this proposal with great excitement, a desire to learn, and a willingness to contribute everything I can,” he added.”
- SupportedNadal thanked president Florentino Perez and the board for proposing the role in a post on X.City AM: “Nadal thanked “president Florentino Perez and the Board for proposing that I join the board of directors of Real Madrid” on X .”
- SupportedThe club called Nadal’s new position a “great source of pride.”City AM: “his new position on the board has been described as a “great source of pride” for Real Madrid.”
- SupportedReal Madrid said on Wednesday that its board agreed to submit the appointment for ratification.City AM: “The board of directors of Real Madrid CF meeting has agreed to submit to the general assembly of delegate members the ratification of the appointment of Rafael Nadal Parera”
- SupportedNadal is member number 67,778 of the club.City AM: “Rafael Nadal Parera, member number 67,778 of our club”
- SupportedNadal already serves as an honorary member of Real Madrid.City AM: “The 22-time Grand Slam-winning Spaniard already serves as an honorary member of the club”
- SupportedReal Madrid is member-owned and has around 100,000 members.City AM: “Real Madrid is a member-owned club, alongside fellow Spanish galacticos Barcelona, and has around 100,000 members.”
- SupportedReal Madrid holds elections every four years, and presidential candidates need 20 years of continuous membership to qualify.City AM: “It holds elections every four years with presidential candidates needing to hold 20 years of continuous membership to qualify.”
- SupportedNadal won 92 individual titles, including two Olympic gold medals and 22 Grand Slams, and is seen as one of the Big Three alongside Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.City AM: “Nadal won 92 individual titles across his career including two Olympic gold medals and a total of 22 Grand Slams. He is seen as one of the Big Three alongside Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.”
