There is something of the end of the journey in today’s Madrid and that is as true as there is something of the beginning of the journey. The culmination is for those players who are playing for their sixth Champions League tonight; The beginning will be defined by the maturity of those who have the obligation to keep the torch at the top, with Bellingham, Vinicius and, perhaps, Mbappé at the helm. Borussia Dortmund awaits those who are leaving and those who are going to stay, with its great team and its exciting fans.
The most heard phrase these days is “you don’t have to trust yourself”, which implies an excess of confidence because it takes for granted that Madrid is the favorite. I have the impression that the Madrid people are much more worried about treacherous football than about Borussia. I’m very sorry to repeat it, but I represent the average fan, so let me say that “don’t get too confident.”
But let’s put perspective. The journey through history is never easy in a club as big as Madrid. Since the beginning of the century we had to face the best Barcelona in history; to the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and his fifty goals; the loss of Sergio Ramos and his incomparable leadership; to Florentino’s abrupt resignation and his surprising return, which could become stellar tonight.
I grew up knowing that computers are made of glass. The question I ask myself this Saturday of glory is: why does the glass of this Madrid seem armored? We have already talked about talent, cultural heritage, the power of the Bernabéu. Even luck. But let’s look at it from another perspective: what happens when a player leaves a culture that time made so solid? Footballers take it very hard to go down a step and the majority of those who leave the club pay for it with decadence. My advice would be: never buy a player from Real Madrid.
Let’s move on to less interpretable issues. In Madrid you know who’s in charge. Florentino learned a lot along the way and has accumulated a power that he knows how to handle and that authorizes him to take risks that a president with less authority would not have been allowed. The departures of the aforementioned Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos are a good example.
On the other hand, in an environment where the sense of immediacy makes everyone dizzy, Madrid thinks in the medium and long term. A perspective of great strategic value that allows the best interest to prevail over the urgent. Signing high-level young players can go wrong, but precisely because they are young players they will find post-sale value. If it goes well, there are all advantages and, furthermore, far-reaching. This renewal of the squad is a good example, but the great example is that Madrid’s number 9 shirt is empty waiting for Mbappé. That patience is almost heroic in such a passionate territory.
So turn on your lights, Wembley, to illuminate a story that is even longer than yours. And if it’s about focusing, start with Toni Kroos, a wise man with a quick mind, deceptive body and majestic game who is strategic even when leaving. And let the lights shine on Nacho, that pessimistic defender who embodies the depths of the club from his youth squad origins to his proud captaincy. A discreet guy who, for the moment, bears the weight of the silverware of five Champions Leagues. I’m finishing the article, Wembley, but you continue to illuminate the persistence of Vinicius, the dignity of Modric, the class of Bellingham… Light, more light for this cinematic Madrid.
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