Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme has said he won’t be signing Jose Mourinho should he win the club’s elections.
The 37-year-old green energy billionaire has announced he will run against Florentino Perez in the May 7th face-off.
Riquelme has little-to-no chance of victory, with his campaign largely seen as publicity to set him up for a proper contest in years to come.
Yet during his media rounds, he’s began making some bold statements, the latest about the incoming Mourinho.
“I’ve never been a Mourinho supporter or a non-Mourinho supporter, I’m a Real Madrid supporter,” he told ABC.
“He’s a coach, a great coach, and he’s achieved many successes.
“He has a peculiar style of managing the dressing room. At certain times it can be good or bad for a particular club.
“But I think Real Madrid needs a project for the future, not a short-term one, it doesn’t need a quick fix for the present moment.
“We need to change course and have a medium- to long-term project, and if I am elected president we will assess the situation.
“But we are looking for a long-term project and we will have time to talk about coaches.”
Even with Riquelme’s very remote chances of winning, his candidacy has still caused problems for Mourinho and Perez.
Mourinho had a 10-day clause in his Benfica contract to join another club, and agreed a two-year deal with Madrid with the option of a third.
However, Perez’s surprise decision to call an election means that he’s had to temporarily step down from his presidency to run for re-election.
As such, he can’t sign Mourinho within the 10 day window, and Benfica are now likely to request a fee in the region of of €15million.
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