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Real Madrid presidential hopeful Enrique Riquelme has vowed to bring in a Spain national team player if he secures victory in next month's election.
With roughly a week remaining to make his case to the club's socios, the pressure is on Riquelme—a 37-year-old clean energy businessman—to win over supporters who (for better or worse) already have a clear picture of what they'd get with incumbent Florentino Pérez.
The current president has yet to make any sweeping Luís Figo-style commitments, opting instead for broad statements and leaning heavily on past achievements.
It is Riquelme who has been generating buzz with hints about potential signings and prospective coaching appointments.
The Cox Energy CEO claims to have already identified the manager he intends to install as Álvaro Arbeloa's successor, along with two completed signings. However, he has refrained from naming anyone publicly.
Madrid's Spanish Problem
Speaking to COPE following Spain's announcement of its World Cup squad—which featured no Real Madrid players—Riquelme weighed in on a contentious issue.
"Real Madrid doesn't have a single player in the Spanish national team," he said. "In all 16 World Cups that [Spain] have participated in, there have always been Real Madrid players involved. What shirts are Madrid fans or their kids going to wear to the World Cup? A Lamine Yamal one? As a Madrid supporter, that bothers me deeply, but there is a solution.
"If I become Real Madrid president, I will bring in a Spanish national team player who will have featured at the World Cup."
Madrid having representation in the Spain squad certainly makes sense, but could they realistically target players from the 26-man World Cup roster?
Realistic Candidates
The most obvious candidate by far is Víctor Muñoz. The 22-year-old Osasuna winger departed Madrid for €5 million ($5.8 million) last summer, with the club retaining 50% of his economic rights, making a return to the Bernabéu relatively uncomplicated.
Osasuna sporting director Braulio Vázquez has previously spoken about Madrid's buyback clause on Muñoz, which is reportedly set at just €8 million ($9.5 million).
The pacey winger has been a standout performer in La Liga this season, earning his place in the World Cup squad after netting six goals and contributing four assists in 2025–26.
While Muñoz would represent a straightforward fulfillment of Riquelme's campaign pledge, he may not carry enough star power to fully satisfy supporters—though an impressive World Cup could shift that perception. As primarily a left winger, there are also doubts over whether Muñoz would get sufficient playing time at Madrid given the competition from Vinicius Jr.
The name many believe Riquelme is actually alluding to with his recent remarks is Rodri.
The 29-year-old Manchester City midfielder has long been connected with Real Madrid and would undoubtedly represent the kind of marquee signing capable of electrifying the fanbase.
When asked directly about the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner, Riquelme told ESPN: "I love that player, he's a fantastic player and exactly the type of player Real Madrid should have and who should be wearing this shirt."
Outside Shots
Beyond Muñoz and Rodri, there are few other genuinely viable targets for Madrid due to various factors including age, existing squad depth, and Barcelona ties. That said, a couple of names could be on the radar for either Riquelme—or even Pérez.
Pedro Porro is one of the few players to have emerged from a dismal Tottenham Hotspur campaign with his reputation largely intact. The 26-year-old—alongside Marcos Llorente—has stepped in to fill the void left by Dani Carvajal for Spain and is a reliable performer in both directions at full back.
There has also been speculation that Madrid could enter the market for a target striker this summer, in the mold of Joselu, who proved an invaluable squad option during the triumphant 2023–24 season.
The 33-year-old Borja Iglesias would certainly fit that description. "The Panda" has surpassed 10 goals in each of his last five complete La Liga seasons and offers something distinctly different to Madrid's other attacking options, even if his commercial appeal is more limited.
Given their undeniable quality as two of the world's top shot-stoppers, David Raya and Unai Simón could both be considered as long-term replacements for 34-year-old Thibaut Courtois—though sourcing a new goalkeeper is unlikely to be a top priority this summer.
How Can Real Madrid Dominate Spain National Team Again?
As Riquelme highlighted, this summer will mark the first occasion in history that Spain heads to a World Cup without a single Real Madrid player in the squad.
While this may seem shocking, it does follow a gradual decline, with the 2022 squad featuring just two Madrid players. The Euro 2020 squad had none at all—both selections made by Luis Enrique.
The figure rose to three under Luis de la Fuente for the victorious 2024 Euros. However, all three players (Carvajal, Nacho Fernández and Joselu) were well into their 30s during that tournament.
To realize Riquelme's vision of Madrid once again dominating the national team, a single signing will not be enough. It will require sustained effort and a fundamental rethink of their squad-building strategy.
Madrid have pursued a younger recruitment profile in recent seasons, but while the Spanish talents brought in—such as Dean Huijsen and Álvaro Carreras—clearly possess the quality, they are yet to truly establish themselves in a demanding environment.
Furthermore, Los Blancos must consider how to better integrate their thriving academy prospects—including those from their recent Youth League success—to build on a proud tradition of developing homegrown stars alongside purchased ones.