Real Madrid have appointed Rafael Nadal to the club’s board of directors, with the club hailing the retired tennis great as one of the greatest legends in sporting history.
The club expressed its pride at the news that the 22-time Grand Slam champion, a longtime Real Madrid fan, had taken the executive role on Wednesday.
Following the announcement, Nadal published a photo of himself as a child wearing a Real Madrid kit on his X account.
“I want to thank president Florentino Perez and the board who proposed me to be part of the board of directors at Real Madrid,” Nadal wrote in the caption. “I accepted this proposal with great excitement, a desire to learn and contribute everything I can.”
The move follows Nadal’s denial earlier in 2026 of reports linking him to a possible candidacy for the club’s presidency. Nadal, an honorary member of Real Madrid, described those reports as “untrue”.
Club praises Nadal’s values
Real Madrid paid tribute to the 40-year-old, who retired from professional tennis in 2024, saying his values aligned with those of the club.
“Rafael Nadal, an honorary member of Real Madrid, is one of the greatest legends in the history of sport and one of the most admired and recognised Spanish athletes in the world,” a club spokesperson said.
“For Real Madrid and for all Madrid fans, it is a great source of pride that a figure of his sporting and human stature, a benchmark of Spanish and world sport, will become part of our Board of Directors and contribute, from this position of responsibility, to the present and future of our club.”
The spokesperson went on to highlight Nadal’s qualities beyond his achievements on court.
“Rafael Nadal has forged a legendary sporting career. But his figure represents much more than his successes: his talent, his constant drive to improve, his capacity for sacrifice, his competitiveness, his humility, his respect for rivals and team-mates, and his commitment to solidarity make him an example both on and off the court.”
“All these values are part of Real Madrid’s identity, and Rafael Nadal has represented and defended them throughout his sporting life, becoming a role model for millions of people around the world.”