Real Madrid has announced that 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal has joined the club’s board of directors.
Nadal is a lifelong Madrid fan, despite being born and raised in Mallorca.
The Spaniard retired in November 2024, leaving him second only to Novak Djokovic on the all-time list with a total of 22 grand slam crowns, including his record at Roland Garros.
Alongside his tennis academy in Mallorca, Nadal is known to be keen to develop his business interests and he will now have a say in Real Madrid’s future.
“The Board of Directors of Real Madrid CF, which met today, Wednesday, November 4, agreed to submit to the General Assembly of Compromise Partners the ratification of the appointment of Rafael Nadal Parera, member number 67,778 of our club, as a new member of the Board of Directors,” the club said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Rafael Nadal, an honorary member of Real Madrid, is one of the biggest legends in the history of sports and one of the most admired and recognized Spanish athletes in the world.
“For Real Madrid, it is a great honor to have a personality with a sporting and human dimension, a reference to Spanish and world sports, as part of our Board of Directors and to contribute to the present and future of our club from this responsibility.”
Real Madrid – Nadal shares the club’s values
The statement continued: “With an extraordinary record of 92 individual titles, including 22 grand slams, two Olympic gold medals, five Davis Cups with Spain and one world ranking, Rafael Nadal played a role in a legendary sporting career. But his stature represents more than his achievements: his talent, ability, spirit to improve his ability. His competitiveness, humility, respect for opponents and teammates, and his commitment to solidarity both on the court, he also leads by example off the field.
“All these values are part of the identity of Real Madrid and Rafael Nadal has represented and defended them throughout his sporting life, becoming a benchmark for millions of people around the world.”
Nadal was excited by the news and said: “I want to thank President Florentino Perez and the Board of Directors for the offer to join @realmadrid’s Board of Directors. I accepted the offer with great excitement, eagerness to learn and willingness to give my all.”