Riquelme: Klopp will be first choice for Real Madrid job if I win election
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Sky Sports or go back to LFC Live.
Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme has released a statement confirming that Jurgen Klopp will be his choice for the manager's job at the Bernabeu if he is elected on Sunday.Riquelme will go up against Florentino Perez in Sunday's presidential elections at Real Madrid - having already claimed he will try and sign Manchester City duo Erling Haaland and Rodri if he is elected. Real currently do not operate with a sporting director and Raul was Real Madrid's B team coach until last year.But according to Riquelme, Raul's sole recommendation for the head coach role is former Liverpool boss Klopp.
"For that reason, if the members grant me their trust this Sunday, on Monday June 8, Raul Gonzalez Blanco [Real Madrid's sporting director] will contact Jurgen Klopp to convey to him personally our sporting project and our wish for him to be the one to lead, from the bench, our new era at Real Madrid."What has Perez promised Real Madrid fans? Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Sky Sport's James Green explains why Manchester are threatening legal action after a Real Madrid presidential candidate promised to sign Erling Haaland Perez's rival Riquelme claimed on Spanish TV show El Hormiguero on Wednesday night that Haaland had a release clause and wants to move to the Bernabeu.
He also held up a Real shirt with 'Haaland 9' on the back.Riquelme, who also promised to sign Haaland's City team-mate Rodri, said: "If I break my promises regarding either of these players, I've signed a guarantee where I'd pay 100 per cent of membership costs for next season."Haaland has a release clause, and he wants to come to Madrid."However, Manchester City have moved quickly to refute those claims, saying in a statement that there is "no chance" Haaland will be leaving the Etihad Stadium any time soon. Video credit: ServusTV Former Liverpool manager Klopp has not returned to club management since leaving Anfield in the summer of 2024.The German is currently working as the Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull's sporting group - a position he has held since January 2025.On two occasions since leaving Liverpool, Klopp said he was "done" as a coach - the latest of those statements coming in September of last year.However, when Klopp was linked to the Real Madrid job at the beginning of this year, he rubbished those reports - but admitted he was open to returning to club management."If Real Madrid had phoned, we would have heard about it by now," he said in March."But that's all nonsense.