Real Madrid announces the appointment of Rafael Nadal as a member of its board of directors

Real Madrid announced the appointment of tennis legend Rafael Nadal as a member of its board of directors. The club will put this appointment to a vote before its members on November 21. If approved, Nadal, who is 40 years old, will officially assume his position.

Despite being born in the Balearic Islands, off the south-eastern coast of mainland Spain, Nadal has always remained an extremely loyal Real Madrid fan. In fact, his support for Real Madrid comes despite the fact that his uncle, Miguel Angel Nadal, previously played for Barcelona between 1991 and 1999, where he played 268 matches for the Catalan club.

In 2011, Nadal was granted honorary membership of the club, an honor usually reserved for the immediate relatives of current members. The tennis legend won 22 Grand Slam titles, including a record 14 French Open titles, during a golden era in men's tennis.

Nadal previously wrote on Twitter: “I would like to thank President Florentino Pérez and the Board of Directors for suggesting that I join the Real Madrid Board of Directors.” He added: "I accepted this proposal with great enthusiasm, a desire to learn, and a willingness to give everything I could."

Real Madrid said in a statement: “The Board of Directors of Real Madrid, at its meeting today, Wednesday, November 4, agreed to present the proposal to appoint Rafael Nadal Parreira - member number 67,778 in our club - as a new member of the Board of Directors, for approval by the General Assembly of delegate members.” The Royal Club continued: “Rafael Nadal, an honorary member of Real Madrid, is one of the greatest legends in the history of sports, and one of the most admired and famous Spanish athletes in the world.”

Real Madrid added: “For Real Madrid and all its fans, it is a source of great pride for a figure of this magnitude, both sporting and humanitarian - who is considered a milestone in Spanish and international sports - to join our Board of Directors, as he will contribute through this responsible position to the present and future of our club.” The royal team continued: “Thanks to his exceptional record, which includes 92 singles titles - including 22 Grand Slam titles - two Olympic gold medals, and five Davis Cup titles with Spain, in addition to his position at the top of the world rankings, Rafael Nadal has succeeded in building a legendary sporting career.”

Real Madrid added: "But his personality represents much more than just his successes; his talent, his constant striving for development, his ability to sacrifice, his competitive spirit, his humility, his respect for his competitors and colleagues, and his commitment to solidarity; all of that makes him a role model, whether on or off the field." Madrid concluded by saying: “All of these values ​​are part of the identity of Real Madrid Club, and Rafael Nadal has represented and defended them throughout his sporting career, thus becoming a role model for millions of people around the world.”