Florentino Pérez surprised everyone by calling elections at Real Madrid. The president of the Spanish giants had faced no opposition in recent electoral processes, but now it appears he could encounter a strong challenger.

That challenger is Enrique Riquelme, a Spanish businessman and president of Grupo Cox. Contrary to what many believed — and even what Florentino hinted at when mentioning someone with a “Mexican accent” speaking about him — Riquelme is not Mexican. He was born in Cox, Alicante, on January 9, 1989, although he has spent much of his life between Mexico and South America.

A Candidacy Gaining Momentum

Riquelme had already shown interest in running in the 2021 Real Madrid elections, although he ultimately did not participate. However, the current situation is different. Reports from Marca indicate that, following this surprising election announcement, the businessman is now prepared and only waiting for the process to become official before presenting his candidacy.

Florentino Pérez has accused him of trying to destabilize Real Madrid and, during the controversial press conference, took a jab at him with the uncomfortable comment regarding his alleged “Mexican accent.”

Among the requirements to run for the presidency of Real Madrid is having been a club member for more than 20 years and presenting a financial guarantee equivalent to 15% of the institution’s annual budget, a figure close to €187 million.

The Requirements and the Club’s Political Landscape

Riquelme would reportedly have no issues meeting either condition. Grupo Cox, the company he leads, is valued at approximately €1 billion and, in addition, he has been a member of Real Madrid since childhood. At 37 years old, he comfortably fulfills both requirements.

As previously mentioned, he stepped away from competing in the 2021 elections due to the short deadlines established by the board for registering candidacies, something his inner circle claimed made it nearly impossible to organize a real opposition against Florentino Pérez. However, his intention to compete never disappeared, which is why, in these unexpected elections, his candidacy now appears more likely than ever.

Since June 2009, Florentino Pérez has presented his candidacy without opposition. It has now been five consecutive election processes in which the president of Real Madrid has had no rival. Nevertheless, amid the club’s current results crisis, all signs point to a contender finally emerging to challenge the executive who led Madrid to European glory and elevated the club’s global brand.

Watch beIN SPORTS Xtra live for free on YouTube