Enrique Riquelme, a businessman, presented his project for the presidency of Real Madrid this Wednesday, targeting the elections scheduled for June 7. His candidacy focuses on returning prominence to the club's members and preventing any privatization of the entity, positioning him against Florentino Pérez.
During the presentation event, Riquelme emphasized that while Real Madrid is global, "the club belongs to its members." His program aims to restore the institutional and social weight of the members, stating: "If I am president, it will once again belong to its members."
The core of his proposal is the so-called ‘Ciudad del Socio’ (Member City), a social, sports, and family complex to be built in Valdebebas. This project, spanning over 745,000 square meters, would be developed in three phases: social and sports facilities, a high-end hotel linked to the Madridista ecosystem, and a multifunctional arena for basketball and concerts with a capacity of 15,000 spectators.
Riquelme described this initiative as "the greatest transformation for and by the member in the history of Real Madrid," lamenting the loss of privileges for season ticket holders. "The member was left with the stadium; today, even opposing fans have better seats than the season ticket holders," he asserted.
The plan includes a space designed for the meeting and coexistence of members, families, and fan clubs, featuring sports facilities, dining areas, co-working spaces, auditoriums, and event venues. The new arena would also enable the monetization of concerts held outside the Santiago Bernabéu.
Among the most striking measures in his program are a 50 percent reduction in membership fees until the club wins another Champions League. He also proposes a notarized lottery for 10,000 new season tickets and a more transparent system for waiting lists, which he claims are currently marked by "nepotism" and favoritism.
Riquelme also criticized the current ticket resale model, proposing a system where the season ticket holder receives 70 percent of the final sale amount within seven days. Furthermore, he advocates for digitizing access to tickets for non-season ticket holders and enhancing support for veteran members.
His plan also includes initiatives for the Madridista fan clubs, such as reinstating the General Assembly of Fan Clubs, offering ticket discounts, creating a dedicated stand, and establishing a 'Fan Club Day'. Symbolically, he aims to revive the Santiago Bernabéu Trophy and protect the club's historical anthems.
The Alicante-based businessman also addressed other club-related matters, such as the women's team, for which he proposed playing major matches at the Santiago Bernabéu, while others would be held at an expanded and modernized Alfredo Di Stéfano stadium. In his closing remarks, Riquelme criticized the handling of the 'Negreira case' and the club's stance over the years, concluding: "I want to put the member at the center, not every 20 years."
