The long-awaited election day at Real Madrid has delivered its verdict, immediately paving the way for sporting plans that promise to shake up the international landscape just ahead of the major World Cup event.

Between boardroom politics and the latest national team developments, the beautiful game today reminds us of the fragility of its leading figures and the passion of constant renewal.

From the dugouts of the capital to the international treatment room, we review the five main stories setting the global agenda this Friday.

Florentino Pérez re-elected as Real Madrid president

The current Real Madrid chief has secured an eighth term after defeating Enrique Riquelme at the ballot box. Pérez won 65% of the members’ votes in an election that once again hands him full control of the Madrid club for the coming years.

José Mourinho returns to the Santiago Bernabéu dugout

The first major bombshell of the new term is a familiar face. The signing of the Portuguese coach by Real Madrid will be made official in the coming hours; Mourinho will be unveiled imminently and is already putting together the foundations of his new and ambitious sporting project.

Riquelme accepts defeat with optimism for the future

Despite finishing well behind in the count, Enrique Riquelme said he was satisfied to have helped bring about a democratic vote at the club. The opposition candidate congratulated the winner and made it clear that his long-term project does not end here: "This is not the end, it is the beginning."

De la Fuente carefully manages his stars for Spain’s debut

On the international front, national team coach Luis de la Fuente is hopeful of having Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams available for Spain’s World Cup opener against Cape Verde. The coach from La Rioja admitted that, although it is unlikely they will start after carrying minor issues, both wingers will get minutes in the opener.

Major scare involving Christian Eriksen in Denmark-Ukraine

Alarm bells rang when the Danish midfielder collapsed on the pitch during the friendly. Fortunately, Eriksen is conscious and out of danger in hospital, thanks to the swift medical response that led to the match being definitively abandoned.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.