▲ Tennis star Rafael Nadal, poised to join the Real Madrid board of directors
Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal has joined the board of directors of Real Madrid, the powerhouse of Spain's professional football league, La Liga.
On November 5 (Korean time), Nadal posted a childhood photo of himself wearing a Real Madrid uniform on his social media, stating, "I want to thank President Florentino Pérez and the board of directors for appointing me as a member of the Real Madrid board of directors." He added, "I have accepted this proposal with great excitement, a desire to learn, and the mindset to contribute everything I can."
Real Madrid also released a statement on the same day, announcing, "Nadal, one of the greatest legends in sports history and one of the most respected and recognized Spanish athletes in the world, will join the board of directors." The club added, "We have decided to submit the appointment of Nadal, whose club membership number is 67,778, as a new board member to the General Assembly of Delegate Members for approval."
Nadal, who achieved remarkable feats on the tennis court including 22 Grand Slam singles titles, two Olympic gold medals, and five Davis Cup titles, retired from active competition in October 2024.
Notably, Nadal has drawn attention for being an ardent fan of Real Madrid, despite his uncle, Miguel Ángel Nadal, having played for the rival team Barcelona.
British public broadcaster BBC reported, "It has not yet been determined what role Nadal will play on the board," adding, "His appointment as a director is expected to be approved at the general assembly scheduled for later this month."
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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