Real Madrid elections: Enrique Riquelme doubles down on Jurgen Klopp claim – ‘I’m certain’

Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme hasn’t backed down on his claims over Jurgen Klopp being his choice for head coach.

Riquelme looks set to lose the elections against Florentino Perez, but gain a far higher number of votes than expected when he began his campaign.

The 37-year-old challenger has made a number of promises, a number of them which have looked rather populist.

Chiefly among them was his claim that he could land Klopp and would send sporting director Raul to him for negotiations this week.

Klopp has maintained he’s retired from coaching, and his agent was quick to slam the claims as ‘annoying’ after Riquelme made them.

Yet speaking outside of the voting booths at Valdebebas, the green energy billionaire made his point again.

Riquelme confirms Klopp plan

“I still maintain that, if I become president of Real Madrid, the players I’ve mentioned will play for Real Madrid this summer, just as we said that our coach since Raul’s arrival is Jurgen Klopp,” he commented.

“We’d like to convince him starting next Monday, and I’m almost certain we’ll be able to, we will do everything possible.”

Riquelme then said he thinks Madrid have been unable to sign such a coach given the role of his rival Perez.

He added: “It’s unacceptable that a Real Madrid president is making dressing room decisions; that’s probably why Jurgen Klopp hasn’t wanted to coach Real Madrid until now.”

He also commented: “I would have liked to put many more things on the table, many more social issues, but in these weeks I think it has been enough for the members to get to know us a little.”

Riquelme then finished by reaffirming his claims that Perez with privatise the club against the members.

He said: “It is the most important day in Real Madrid’s history in the last 20 years, and probably in a large part of its history.

“We are voting between selling the club and keeping it in the hands of its members, putting the members at the heart of it all.

“It’s extremely important. To those who are undecided, I urge you to go and vote.”