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Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme has promised to bring Jurgen Klopp to the Bernabéu, but the German’s agent insists he has no plans to return to coaching.
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (AFP)
Real Madrid’s presidential election campaign has taken a dramatic turn.
Florentino Perez’s challenger, Enrique Riquelme, is promising to appoint Jurgen Klopp as the club’s next manager if he defeats the incumbent in Sunday’s vote.
The 37-year-old businessman, who is attempting to unseat Perez after more than a decade of dominance at the Santiago Bernabeu, has made the former Liverpool boss the centrepiece of his sporting vision for the club.
In a statement released on Friday, Riquelme revealed that his proposed sporting director, former Real Madrid captain Raul Gonzalez, would immediately contact Klopp if he wins the election.
“We know that Jurgen Klopp has publicly stated he has no intention of returning to the dugout in the short term, and that he has turned down numerous offers,” Riquelme said.
“That is precisely why we believe the challenge of Real Madrid is different. Because there are great clubs, but there is only one Real Madrid.”
The presidential hopeful added that Raul would personally present the club’s sporting project to Klopp and attempt to convince him to lead “a new era for Real Madrid.”
Klopp has been out of coaching since leaving Liverpool in 2024 and currently works in a senior football role within the Red Bull organisation. His departure from Anfield ended a hugely successful nine-year spell during which he won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Club World Cup.
However, Riquelme’s ambitious proposal was swiftly dismissed by Klopp’s camp.
“It’s annoying! Jurgen Klopp is happy in his role at Red Bull and has no ambitions to work as a coach at a club,” Klopp’s agent Marc Kosicke told Sky Sports Germany.
Perez vs Riquelme
Perez, who has run unopposed in every presidential election since beginning his second spell in charge in 2009, is facing a rare challenge to his authority.
The 79-year-old recently suggested that Jose Mourinho could return to the Bernabéu if he remains president, while also hinting at a blockbuster Galacticos-style signing.
Riquelme has responded by backing Klopp instead, setting up a clash of visions ahead of Sunday’s vote.
Whether either promise becomes reality remains to be seen.
About the Author
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His…Read More
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