Real Madrid challenger Enrique Riquelme unveils bold plan to unseat Florentino Pérez

Enrique Riquelme, a candidate in Real Madrid’s upcoming presidential election, unveiled his campaign platform Wednesday ahead of the June 7 vote, where he hopes to unseat longtime club president Florentino Pérez.

Riquelme’s proposal package focuses heavily on club members, known as socios, but the centerpiece of his campaign is an ambitious expansion project at Valdebebas, Real Madrid’s training complex. He has branded the initiative “Ciudad del Socio,” or “The Members’ City.”

The project would include a new social club for members, a hotel, an aquatic center, padel courts and additional soccer fields.

Massive Valdebebas expansion at the heart of the campaign

One of Riquelme’s headline proposals is a complete overhaul and expansion of Real Madrid City in Valdebebas.

Plans include a new arena for the basketball team with a 15,000-seat capacity that could also host concerts and major events. He is also proposing an expansion of Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano, increasing capacity to 20,000 fans.

The women’s team would also benefit from the project. Riquelme says Real Madrid Femenino could play more matches at the Santiago Bernabéu under his leadership.

Membership benefits and ticketing reforms

A major part of Riquelme’s campaign is centered on reforms for socios.

Among his promises is a guarantee that Real Madrid would remain 100% member-owned. He also pledged to cut membership fees in half until the club wins another UEFA Champions League title.

Other proposals include:

• A public and transparent waiting list for season tickets
• A notarized lottery for 10,000 new season-ticket spots for members
• Expanded membership opportunities for relatives of current socios
• A revamped season-ticket transfer system
• Priority ticket sales for non-season-ticket members
• Family season-ticket grouping options
• Enhanced support services for longtime members

Riquelme also wants to restore the club’s traditional 25-year membership celebration and increase fan access to first-team and academy training sessions.

Another notable proposal is the creation of an independent “Defender of the Member” role designed to represent socios separately from the club’s leadership.

Travel, global growth and supporter clubs

Riquelme’s platform also includes plans to improve away-game travel for fans through a dedicated travel agency and reduced prices for visiting sections at stadiums.

On the international front, he is calling for new audiovisual content formats to strengthen Real Madrid’s global presence. He also wants to launch a new digital platform for member services and create a transparency portal tied to club operations.

Supporter groups, known as peñas, also feature prominently in the campaign. Riquelme has proposed reviving the General Assembly of Peñas, organizing international supporter gatherings and reintroducing a dedicated annual day celebrating fan clubs.

Restoring Real Madrid traditions

Riquelme also emphasized preserving club traditions and symbols.

His campaign promises include bringing back the Santiago Bernabéu Trophy, creating a “Legends Center” inside the club museum and preserving all official Real Madrid anthems.

The election is scheduled for June 7, with Riquelme positioning himself as the main alternative to Pérez, who has led the club through one of the most successful periods in Real Madrid history.

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