RAFAEL NADAL has been tipped for a stunning career change into a new sport just days after retiring from tennis.
Nadal, 38, picked up his racquet for the final time in professional tennis on Tuesday.
The legendary Spaniard was beaten in straight sets by Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp as his nation crashed out of the Davis Cup.
Carlos Alcaraz won his match to keep Spain in contention before the Netherlands emerged victorious by winning the decisive doubles contest.
Nadal had announced in early October how he would retire after the Davis Cup.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion has remained coy on his next career move.
However, his uncle Toni believes there is one position in particular he would be “delighted” with.
The King of Clay is well known to be a huge fan of Real Madrid football club.
Consequently, the Mallorcan tennis coach has tipped Nadal to make a stunning switch to land an executive role within the club’s hierarchy.
Speaking to El Larguero, Toni said: “I imagine that if he is offered the position of director of Madrid, he would be delighted.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
“I haven’t said president. I think it’s because he is such a big fan of Real Madrid.
“I have experienced it with him in New York and Australia, in very important tournaments, getting up and making us get up in the early hours of the morning to go and watch the Madrid match.”
Despite this, Toni admits it is merely speculation at this point.
He added: “He really likes sport, especially football, so I think that of course he would like to be involved, but I don’t know. I am speaking without any more knowledge than my intuition.”
Asked about potentially succeeding Florentino Perez as president of Real Madrid, Nadal was open to the idea, though admitted he may change his mind by the time the position opens up.
He told Movistar: “I think I’d like to. But there are a lot of things. Right now there’s nothing to say because we have the best possible president.
“What I think today, I might not think tomorrow. There are lots of twists and turns in life.
“You have to know if you’re qualified to do this kind of thing. I’m quite realistic. I know my limitations.
“I don’t know if I’d be capable or not. Time will tell. I haven’t asked [Perez] about it.
“I think you [the media] get carried away. I don’t think I fulfil the requirements.”
But Toni knows for certain about one activity Nadal will increase his participation in.
Toni said: “Now he will be calm for a while and then he will get involved with sport, I understand with complete certainty that, in one way or another, he will get more involved with his academies.
“He will get more involved with the Manacor academy, because he did it for a reason, it is his passion.”
Nadal was tearful during the national anthem before the game and broke down crying as he left the court for the final time.
He was given a heroic send-off by team-mates and adoring home fans while many huge sports stars also paid tribute.
A four-and-a-half-minute video was played over the big screen with classy tributes from fellow tennis stars Serena Williams, Andy Murray, Conchita Martinez, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.
Spanish footballers Rodri, Iker Casillas, Andres Iniesta and Raul, golfer Sergio Garcia and ex-Real Madrid man David Beckham also featured.
Nadal teared up watching the montage, which also featured many of his illustrious career highlights, from the breakout teenage star to Davis Cup glories for Spain, to his remarkable 2022 Australian Open victory, coming from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev in the final.
Then he – and many in the crowd including his doting wife Mery – were forced to wipe away the waterworks before he spoke on the court following confirmation of the end.
Asked how he wanted to be remembered, the man from Manacor replied: “The titles and the numbers are there so people probably know that.
“But what I want to be remembered more for is as a good person from a small village in Mallorca.
“I was just a kid who followed their dreams, worked as hard as possible to be where I am today and, being honest, I have been very lucky with the life I’ve had the opportunity to live.
“I achieved more than what I ever dreamed.”
Nadal added to the crowd who chanted “Rafa, Rafa” throughout the tie: “It has been 20 years of a professional career in which you have carried me through the good times, and in the bad, you pushed me to keep playing.
“The truth is that you never want to get to this point. I’m not tired of playing tennis but my body doesn’t want to play anymore and you have to accept that.
“I feel super privileged, I’ve been able to make my hobby my profession for a long time. Of course, it has been an emotional day and I felt nerves before the match.
“I tried my best, I tried to enjoy and play with the right energy and the right attitude.”
Nadal mouthed “gracias” to the crowd during a minute-long standing ovation.
Tennis stars’ new careers
PLENTY of tennis stars have stayed involved in the sport since retiring.
But others pursued very different careers. Here are some of the best…
- I reached French Open and Wimbledon finals as a teenager but I quit to become a nun
- I won Wimbledon mixed doubles with my sister but got fed up with English weather so now run luxury B&B
- I was tipped for stardom aged 12 but retrained to become high-flying lawyer
- I earned £9m and won French Open before setting up bistro with Brazilian model girlfriend
- I’m last Frenchman to win Roland Garros, now I’m singer with six albums hitting No1 in charts
- I’m former world No1 but quit aged 29 – instead I went on to play professional poker and golf
- I was destined for the top but swapped lobs for labs as award-winning Harvard physicist
