The new Rafa Nadal Museum has opened in Manacor as an immersive tour of the great Spanish tennis player's career. But his sporting past was slightly overshadowed as he denied any links with Enrique Riquelme's candidacy in the Real Madrid elections and expressed his respect for Florentino Pérez.
The new Rafa Nadal Museum opened its doors this Thursday in Manacor (Mallorca) in a ceremony presided over by the tennis player himself, who defined the project as one of the "most special" of his life.
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The space, located in his academy, is entirely dedicated to his life and sporting career.
Under the slogan 'Inside the Legend', the two-storey museum offers an immersive tour that starts with an audiovisual tunnel about Rafael Nadal's childhood and his first dreams, and moves through the milestones that marked his career on and off the courts.
Trophies, personal objects and iconic memorabilia make up a story that seeks to show both the champion and the person behind the titles.
The museum also incorporates interactive areas that allow visitors to experience the demands of professional sport, from which Nadal retired just two years ago, as well as themed areas such as 'King of Clay', dedicated to his dominance on clay, or 'Origins Zone', focused on his beginnings.
Also of note is 'Legends of Sport', a room that brings together original objects from sportsmen and women who inspired Nadal, including Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, Tiger Woods, Usain Bolt, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Pau Gasol.
Real Madrid elections: Nadal stands out from the crowd
To mark the inauguration, Nadal addressed the media, who questioned him about the elections called this week by the president of Real Madrid, Florentino Perez, after his name has been linked to the possible candidacy of Enrique Riquelme. "I wanted to nip speculation in the bud. I understand the logic, but I don't participate in that", he said.
On the other hand, the tennis player wanted to underline his "maximum respect" for Pérez. "Of Florentino I know what he can contribute and he has demonstrated it all these years".
This was swiftly followed by the Spaniard denying having enough information to evaluate Riquelme: "I don't know if he is going to present himself, nor what he can contribute".
And regarding Real Madrid's current form as they end their second successive season with a trophy, Nadal added: "They are coming off the back of a difficult season. In sport you can't always win and it's also good to recognise wrong decisions."
