Jose Mourinho and Erling Haaland were two of the big names drafted in to boost Florentino Perez and his presidential rival Enrique Riquelme’s dueling campaigns as the election to run Real Madrid heats up ahead of this Sunday’s election.
Members will vote between Perez, 79, and the 37-year-old challenger, to lead the club forward, with both candidates making various promises if they are to hold the role.
Perez, who has been at Madrid since 2009, has moved to appoint Mourinho for a second stint in charge, after the Portuguese led Los Blancos between 2010 and 2013 – but the veteran manager’s move from Benfica to the Bernabeu is yet to be formally announced.
Despite this, the long-standing Real chief’s official campaign social media pages posted a video on Wednesday night captioned: ‘So much history to make’ with Mourinho front and centret.
It featured the words: ‘While on TV they talk, and talk, and talk…’ and then saw Mourinho appear as he said, in Spanish ‘yes’ in a quasi-unveiling.
Mourinho’s new contract is believed to run until the summer of 2028, and will include an option to extend by a further year.
Jose Mourinho (right) will be the new Real Madrid manager if Florentino Perez (left) is re-elected as president
Mourinho appeared in an official campaign video of Perez, wearing a Real Madrid shirt
The 63-year-old, who hasn’t won a league title in 11 years, will step into a crisis club after a season clouded by in-fighting between players, an early Champions League exit, and Barcelona steaming to the LaLiga title.
Perez, who has remained good friends with Mourinho since his Bernabeu exit, has promised to announce his side’s first ‘big signing’ on Thursday.
Former Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate, as well as Dutch right back Denzel Dumfries, are expected to join.
Perez has faced no competition in the last five rounds of elections at Madrid, but he is up against Riquelme this time around.
Under Riquelme, who is 42 years younger than his competitor, there will be no looking backwards, with the renewable energy entrepreneur vowing not to appoint the former manager.
‘If I win the elections, I will bring to Real Madrid a superstar manager,’ Riquelme has said. ‘The biggest manager you can imagine.
‘Jose Mourinho is not our manager. We will get the one all Real Madrid fans really want.’
While refusing to be drawn over who his manager would be, Riquelme has promised to make Madrid legend Raul his sporting director if he is elected.
He has also promised to sign Spain star and current Manchester City midfielder Rodri, as well as City star Haaland, boldly holding up a Madrid shirt with Haaland’s name on the back during a campaign appearance on television.
He faces a tough task if he is to take the reins, though, with Perez the heavy favourite to come out as the victor.
Mourinho is contracted at Benfica for another year and as his release clause has expired, it will cost Madrid upwards of £12million in compensation to sign him, according to Portuguese reports.
Enrique Riquelme (pictured), meanwhile, has pledged to sign Erling Haaland if he wins the vote
Los Blancos are on the verge of confirming the signing of former Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate (pictured)
It is set to be a summer of upheaval at the Santiago Bernabeu and Mourinho will not be able to rely on the help of Alvaro Arbeloa.
Arbeloa, who has managed the team since January, confirmed he will not stay to work under the Portuguese.
‘Mourinho has a fantastic coaching staff; he’s surrounded by great people. If he comes, he’ll bring his own team, as he should. There’s no chance I’ll be joining him.
‘I’ve spent the last four months thinking about Madrid. From now on, it’s time to think about myself. I’ve taken the leap, and I feel ready for new challenges.’
Konate, meanwhile, revealed his Liverpool exit earlier this week after his contract expired.
It had been reported that progress had been made in contract discussions, but any talks soon collapsed and he departed on a free transfer.
