Rafael Nadal might have a few years left on the tour, but it hasn’t stopped him from speaking about what his dream job would be in the future.
The nine-time French Open champion has recently told Spanish website El Mundo that he would like to one day become the president of football team Real Madrid. Nadal had enjoyed close ties with the team in recent years. In 2011 he was named an honorary member by the club and reportedly played a key role in the signing of Marco Asensio in 2014.
“If you ask me if I would like it, of course I would, why not?” he said, via El Mundo.
“But there is more to it… I think it will not be.”
Whilst expressing an interest in the position, Nadal has praised current president Florentino Perez. Perez has been the head of the club since 2009 and also previously held the position between 2000-2006. Real Madrid is currently at the top of the La Liga league, one point ahead of Barcelona F.C.
“We are very good as we are,” he said.
“We have a great president right now and I don’t think Real Madrid need me, but we never know what can happen in the future.
“It is not something I can raise today.”
Last year, Nadal received a statement of support from the club following doping allegations. France’s former minister of sport, Roselyne Bachelot, sparked outrage in the Spanish sporting world after she suggested the former world No.1 served a silent ban. In the statement, the club hailed Nadal as ‘one of the greatest sportsmen of all-time.”
Nadal’s passion for football is one embedded in his family. His uncle, Miguel Angel Nadal, played for Barcelona between 1991- 1998 and represented Spain in three World Cups.
The 30-year-old will return to the tour next week as the top seed at the Rotterdam Open, in what will be his first tournament since the Australian Open. Nadal reached the final in Melbourne before being edged out in five sets by Roger Federer.
