Nadal on his statement about the Real Madrid elections: “I didn’t want to fuel speculation”

Rafa Nadal, the Spanish sports icon who won 22 Grand Slam titles, spoke to reporters during the reopening ceremony of the Rafa Nadal Museum at his academy in Manacor, Spain. The museum showcases every major trophy from his legendary career, along with memorabilia from some of the world’s greatest athletes.

During the event, Nadal made it clear that his professional tennis career is officially over following his retirement at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals.

“The tennis chapter is closed, completely closed,” Nadal said. “I think I reached the limit of my possibilities, not mentally, but physically.”

The Spanish legend explained that surgery gave him hope he could still compete at a high level during the final stretch of his career.

“They gave me confidence that with an operation I’d have a chance to compete properly again, and I tried,” he said. “I did everything I had to do to give myself that opportunity because I was happy doing what I loved.”

Nadal reflects on retirement and family life

Nadal admitted that extending his career also allowed him to experience something deeply personal: traveling with his young son during an important stage of his life.

“That gave me beautiful memories,” Nadal said. “It also gave me the peace of mind to close a chapter that needed to close.”

The former world No. 1 also said he hopes the revamped museum can inspire young people to embrace sports and the values they teach.

“Most sports create positive educational values for children,” Nadal explained. “The goal is for people to leave feeling emotional and motivated to play sports themselves.”

He added that while professional sports can take a heavy toll on the body, recreational athletics remain enormously beneficial.

“At the amateur level, sports are healthy, and I think that’s the ultimate message.”

Nadal explains Real Madrid election comments

Nadal also addressed the statement he posted on social media Wednesday denying support for any candidate in the upcoming Real Madrid presidential elections.

The tennis great explained that speculation had linked him to businessman Enrique Riquelme because of their business relationship. Riquelme sponsors the academy’s padel team and is also involved with Nadal’s electric boat racing project.

Still, Nadal said he did not want anyone interpreting that connection as political support against current Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez.

“I have a good relationship with Enrique, but I also have enormous respect for Florentino and everything he has meant to Real Madrid,” Nadal said. “I didn’t want to fuel speculation that I’m not part of.”

Nadal added that soccer rumors tend to spiral quickly, which pushed him to publicly shut down the conversation.

“In soccer, stories grow very fast,” he said. “I wanted to make it clear that I’m not in that moment or situation.”

“You can’t win forever”

A lifelong supporter of both Real Madrid and Mallorca, Nadal also reflected on difficult seasons for both clubs.

Mallorca is battling relegation in LaLiga, while Real Madrid has endured a disappointing campaign after falling short in several major competitions.

“Sports are like that,” Nadal said. “You can’t win forever.”

He acknowledged that mistakes had been made at Madrid but said criticism should also be balanced against years of success under Pérez.

“Sometimes it’s good to admit there have been mistakes and wrong decisions,” Nadal said. “There’s nothing wrong with recognizing that after many years of making the right decisions.”

Nadal also defended the idea of holding elections at the club so members can decide whether they still trust the current board.

Asked specifically about Riquelme as a possible alternative, Nadal declined to take sides.

“Florentino has already shown what he can bring because he’s proven it over many years,” Nadal said. “Enrique would be a new project, and like any new project, there would be things to prove.”

“I was special on the court, not outside it”

Nadal also pushed back against the idea that he sees himself as a role model or exceptional person away from tennis.

“I’ve never tried to be perfect or set an example,” he said. “I just try to act according to the values and education I was given.”

The 22-time major winner recalled a conversation with Banco Santander executive chair Ana Botín, who once asked him if he could really be “that normal.”

“I told her, ‘No, I really am normal. That’s the reality,’” Nadal said with a smile.

“The only thing that wasn’t normal was my tennis. I was better than most people at that. But in life, I’m just as normal as anyone else.”

Nadal opens up about becoming a father

Nadal ended with a surprisingly honest reflection about the birth of his son.

“People say the moment your child is born is incredibly emotional,” he admitted. “For me, I was actually pretty scared.”

Only afterward, Nadal said, did he realize it had become the greatest moment of his life.

“Being a father is the best thing in my life,” he said.

The Spaniard added that professional sports had given him adrenaline unlike almost anything else he had experienced, except for the birth of his son.

Still, he said the greatest source of happiness in his life has remained constant.

“The thing that has made me happiest is always having the people I love close to me,” Nadal said. “That’s one of the reasons I never left this place.”

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