Man City Angry and Mourinho Backs Perez as Real Madrid Presidential Race Heats Up

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Real Madrid's two presidential candidates have stepped up their campaigning, with incumbent Florentino Pérez featuring prospective new coach Jose Mourinho in promotional material and challenger Enrique Riquelme angering Manchester City with comments about under-contract star Erling Haaland.

The tossing around of the big names comes ahead of the vote by club members on Sunday.

Mourinho was reportedly already lined up for a second spell in charge of Madrid before the 79-year-old Pérez called for elections last month. Now it appears that Mourinho's return is contingent on Pérez winning another term as president of the Spanish giant.

"MOUcha historia por hacer ("So MOUch history to make")," read the caption on a post by Perez on X published late Wednesday that included a video of Mourinho saying "Si" ("Yes").

Mourinho, who coached Madrid from 2010-2013, would replace Alvaro Arbeloa after the club finished a second straight campaign without a major trophy.Riquelme, meanwhile, announced his intention of luring Haaland away from City late on Wednesday on a popular late night talk show. The TV show's host held up a fake Real Madrid shirt with Haaland's name on the back while the crowd applauded.Mourinho, who coached Madrid from 2010-2013, would replace Alvaro Arbeloa after the club finished a second straight campaign without a major trophy.