Rafael Nadal's latest venture away from the court confirmed as role with Real Madrid announced

Rafael Nadal is set to become the latest addition to the Board of Directors at Real Madrid as he continues to make headlines away from the court.

Retiring back in 2024, the 22-time Grand Slam champion has moved swiftly on from the sport he once dominated. The next move is away from tennis into football. A big Real Madrid fan, this is a no-brainer move for the 40-year-old.

The club will propose him to its members at the Assembly on November 21 and, if approved, as expected, he will become a member of Madrid’s Board. He will look to help the 15-time Champions League winners get back to their prior heights on and off the pitch after a few years of not achieving their ginormous targets.

On X, he shared his delight to be on board with the Spanish football team. "I want to thank President Florentino Pérez and the Board for proposing that I join the Board of Directors of Ream Madrid. I have accepted this proposal with great excitement, a desire to learn, and a willingness to contribute everything I can."

This huge announcement was confirmed by a statement on the Real Madrid website. The statement read: "The Board of Directors of Real Madrid CF, meeting today Wednesday, November 4, has agreed to submit to the General Assembly of Delegate Members the ratification of the appointment of Rafael Nadal Parera, member number 67,778 of our club, as a new member of the Board of Directors.

"Rafael Nadal, an honorary member of Real Madrid, is one of the greatest legends in the history of sport and one of the most admired and recognised Spanish athletes in the world. For Real Madrid and for all Madrid fans, it is a great source of pride that a figure of his sporting and human stature, a benchmark of Spanish and world sport, will become part of our Board of Directors and contribute, from this position of responsibility, to the present and future of our club.

"With his extraordinary record of 92 individual titles, including 22 Grand Slams, 2 Olympic gold medals, 5 Davis Cups with Spain, and the number 1 ranking in the world, Rafael Nadal has forged a legendary sporting career. But his figure represents much more than his successes: his talent, his constant drive to improve, his capacity for sacrifice, his competitiveness, his humility, his respect for rivals and teammates, and his commitment to solidarity make him an example both on and off the court.

"All these values ​​are part of Real Madrid's identity and Rafael Nadal has represented and defended them throughout his sporting life, becoming a role model for millions of people around the world."

Nadal's tennis career was followed by many adoring tennis fans for two decades, watching him rise up the ranks and cement a dynasty that will be hard to beat. His feats at Roland Garros may never be topped. A 14-time champion in the French capital, he hung his racket up in 2024 and moved on in his life.

His focus has been pinpointed heavily on the Rafael Nadal Academy, as he oversees the next generation of tennis talents who could make a huge impact on the ATP and WTA Tour in the future. International expansion has also been witnessed, with it not just in Mallorca anymore, as it continues to grow.

On the Spanish Island, the Rafael Nadal Museum has also been opened, documenting his entire career and the legendary rivalries on court. Along with other business ventures, he was the centre of attention in his own documentary 'Rafa.' It gives tennis fans a different perspective of the tennis icon, looking into his personal life away from the court.

He certainly has a lot to do these days, keeping himself very busy. This new role at Real Madrid is another exciting opportunity, and will be followed with intrigue.