While attempting to win the EURO 2024 championship with the Spanish national team, defender Nacho announced that he will not continue to contribute to Real Madrid. Although he is not a Real legend, he is the type of player who commands respect from any coach or teammate due to his professionalism, commitment, and dedication.
The moment of separation
A few days ago, Marca announced that Real’s board of directors persuaded Nacho to extend his contract for another year. This action demonstrates that they do not want to lose the 34-year-old Spaniard for free when the contract between the two sides expires. However, president Florentino Perez’s efforts to keep Nacho have eventually failed.
Nacho wrote in a new letter to Royal Spanish fans: “After 24 years of committing myself to Real Madrid, it is time for my career to turn a new page. When I leave Real, I want you to remember me as the player who has been with the club since I was a boy. In whatever situation, I always do everything I can to help the club.”
Unlike Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos, and Luka Modric, Real’s star players, Nacho has never established himself in the first team. The evidence is that in 14 seasons with the first squad, he has never surpassed the 30-appearance threshold in La Liga.
However, Nacho demonstrated his worth last season when he played the full 2023/24 Champions League final between Real and Dortmund. As captain, he helped Real defeat the German representative 2-0, winning the C1/Champions League for the 15th time.
Coach Mourinho was the one who gave Nacho his debut in Real’s first team.
As for Nacho, he has won the most prestigious European club tournament with Real 6 times. At Bernabeu, there are only 2 rare players who have done the same as Nacho: Luka Modric and Dani Carvajal. That said, what Nacho has done with Real before moving to Saudi Arabia to play for Al Qadsiah is truly admirable.
Organic natural musk incense
Nacho, who plays as a defender and is extremely reserved, draws less attention from the public and media than the offensive players. However, this does not imply that his silent contributions to Real are unacknowledged. On the contrary, the athlete who won 26 titles with the “White Vultures” holds a special place in the hearts of his teammates and coaches.
For example, Jose Mourinho, the coach who left Real in 2013, remembers well the student he promoted to the first team (Real won 6-3 against Valencia at the Mestalla in 2011).
When asked about Nacho, the great Portuguese strategist replied, “I am proud of Nacho. When I first met him, he was young but mature as a grown man. The distance between the encounter against Valencia and the Champions League final in 2023/24 is considerable. I can’t help but be proud to have a pupil like Nacho who has survived such a difficult road.”
Like coach Mourinho, another notable coach, Vicente Del Bosque (former coach of Real Madrid and the Spanish national team), had kind words for Nacho: “Before approaching Nacho, I spoke with my colleagues. Say positive words about him. Nacho, in fact, makes everyone admire him due to his excellent demeanor and thinking.”
Nacho won six Champions League titles with Real.
“Nacho has had a fantastic career, and I am delighted for him because he has accomplished what many people aspire to. “It is a well-deserved reward for his efforts,” coach Del Bosque confirmed.
Meanwhile, one of Nacho’s closest friends in the Real youth team, David Mateos (who later played for small clubs such as AEK Athens, Ferencvaros, Orlando City, and Guangxi Pingguo Haliao), said of his former teammate, “I was really impressed by Nacho’s simplicity. His greatest strength is likely his poise. Nacho always knows how to handle situations that are never easy in the most reasonable manner.”
“When Nacho retires, I believe he will turn to cattle farming. Nacho enjoys bullfighting and has contributed funds to open a farm with famous bullfighter Alejandro Talavante. “With Nacho’s personality, I don’t think he is suitable for coaching,” Mateos stated.
For his part, teammate Lucas Vazquez, who has spent many years with Nacho at Real, said briefly: “Whenever Nacho is on the field, he always helps the satellites around him by giving his all. He is the type of player who was meant to be a leader. Nacho’s seriousness and professionalism are incredible. Nacho, in my opinion, is an excellent example at Bernabeu. It would not be an exaggeration to call him the team’s legend.”
The comments of coaches and teammates about Nacho make it clear that this player is extremely valuable. With what he has accomplished, there is no need to erect a statue at Bernabeu; Nacho has every right to be proud because he has become a star in the hearts of fans.