Enrique Riquelme, a prominent figure in the renewable energy sector and founder of Cox Energy, has officially declared his intention to run for the presidency of Real Madrid, challenging the long-standing leadership of Florentino Perez. This announcement comes on the heels of Perez's decision to call for new elections, despite having two years remaining in his current term. The call for elections follows a disappointing season for Real Madrid, which ended without any trophies, while their rivals, Barcelona, successfully retained the LaLiga title.

Riquelme's company, Cox Energy, established in 2014, focuses on solar power projects across Europe and Latin America, and has made significant strides in the energy sector, including managing over 1.2 gigawatts of projects in Spain through Ibox Energy. A notable achievement for Riquelme was the acquisition of Iberdrola's assets in Mexico for $4.2 billion in 2025. In an open letter to Perez, Riquelme argued for a more democratic electoral process at the club, asserting that the best institutions thrive on a blend of