He candidate for the presidency of Real MadridEnrique Riquelme declared that “this is not the end, it is the beginning“after lose the white club electionsand congratulated his rival Florentino Pérez for the victory, in addition to emphasizing that He extends his hand for debate.
“It is also a great victory for this candidacy, that in such a short time we have been able to present a serious candidacy, as promised, professional and exciting.. This for us is not the end, it is the beginning. Real Madrid is not going to go 20 years without elections again,” he added, from the door of his electoral campaign headquarters, where he lived at the end of the count after spending the day at the Madrid Drive-In.
He began his speech by congratulating his rival: “Congratulate the candidacy of Florentino Pérez, because he has achieved victory tonight. I want to thank you for Now all Real Madrid members who have listened know the importance of voting after 20 years“.
Furthermore, it once again affected his opposition to privatization of the club: “They know about our main red line, be against the sale of the club, they have listened to it and have spoken very clearly. We know that the Real Madrid is not for sale and Real Madrid and its partners have been able to speak and they have also demonstrated it at the polls.”
Real Madrid elections. Enrique Riquelme.
“We have stopped the sale of the club, but we have to continue putting the partner at the center of everything. It is a great victory for us too, because we are going to move forward, not only because sales have stopped, but also in new projects. Let Real Madrid fans and Real Madrid members know that They will continue to be able to go to the polls at least every four yearsas they have decided today,” he insisted.
The president of the Cox Group had exercised his right to vote in the basketball pavilion of the Real Madrid City of Valdebebas at 10:51 a.m. (CEST), after which he had declared that They were not “a normal election after twenty years”, but “probably the referendum” on the sale of the club.
Even so, he reinforced his commitment to collaboration with the president: “I extend my hand as I started this candidacy, cWith all due respect to the figure of Real Madrid, in this case its president, with respect to the legacy, and I extend my hand to continue the debate that we have not had in the candidacy“, to also be able to have it so that the best for Real Madrid is maintained, that ideas are taken, and the best thing would also be that the partner is listened to.”
Enrique Riquelme: “Today Real Madrid won”
During the campaign, the Alicante had added Raúl González to his candidacy as sports director, Fernando Hierro as quarry director, Iker Casillas with “a first-level role in the corporate structure” and Vicente del Bosque as advisor to the president.
Furthermore, he had promised signings of Rodri and Erling Haalandthe recovery of Nico Paz and the start of negotiations with Jürgen Klopp to occupy the white team’s bench.
“It has been a pleasure to be with all of you these two or three weeks, thanks to the partner, to the interveners, to all the people who have supported, the media, the campaign teams… It has been a nice project, I would have liked it better another wayperhaps fairer between the parties, but now to look ahead. Thank you all and hala Madrid,” he concluded.
