Rafael Nadal's uncle Toni gives his verdict on whether Spaniard will run for Real Madrid presidency against Florentino Perez

Rafael Nadal’s uncle and former coach, Toni Nadal, has revealed whether the Spaniard has any plans to run for the presidency of his favorite soccer club, Real Madrid. The 22-time Grand Slam champion retired from professional tennis following Spain’s exit from the 2024 Davis Cup Finals.

Nadal announced plans to retire after the Davis Cup Finals in October after having last played competitively at the Paris Olympics. The two-time Olympic champion faced Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp in the last match of his career, losing in straight sets 4-6, 4-6.

Spain lost 2-1 in the three-way tie to the Dutch, ending one of the all-time great careers in the history of the sport. While Nadal hasn’t revealed any future plans, his uncle Toni Nadal has previously hinted at the Spaniard taking a role as the Director of Real Madrid, if offered.

But as far as the presidency is concerned, Toni said Nadal wouldn’t consider the role. Speaking with Marca in an interview, he said:

“I am totally convinced that Rafael would not stand up to Florentino Pérez because he is very happy with his management. (translated from Spanish)”

Nadal has himself expressed the desire to run for the presidency but not until Perez was there.

“I think I’d like to. But there are many factors. Right now, there’s nothing to say because we have the best possible president,” he told Movistar a year ago.

Perez has been the president of Real Madrid for 21 of the last 24 years and is running for his sixth term in the 2025 elections.

“I expect he’ll focus more on his academies” – Toni Nadal on Rafael Nadal’s future plans

2017 French Open Tennis Tournament. Roland Garros. Rafael Nadal and coach Toni Nadal. (Source: Getty)

While Rafael Nadal hasn’t commented on his plans after retirement, uncle Toni Nadal claimed the Spaniard would be engaged with tennis in one way or the other, particularly at his academy in Mallorca, Spain.

“Now he will take it easy for a while, and then I’m certain he’ll get involved in sports in some way. I expect he’ll focus more on his academies, particularly the one in Manacor, as it’s something he’s passionate about,” Toni said to Spanish outlet El Larguero.

Toni has won 16 Majors as a coach with Nadal, the most by a coach in history until 2020 when Novak Djokovic’s coach Marián Vajda overtook him. The 63-year-old stepped down as Nadal’s coach in 2017 and is currently coaching Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime and also works at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca.