Florentino Pérez's Emotional Message to Nacho
Florentino Pérez, president of Real Madrid, during the official farewell of Nacho Fernández as a player for the white team, highlighted that the career of the now Al-Qadsiah defender "is one of the brightest" in the history of the Madrid club.
Florentino Pérez delivered an emotional speech to Nacho and his family (his wife, parents, grandmother, and four children), praising a player who joined Real Madrid at the age of ten and has spent almost 24 seasons with the club.
"Your family has helped you achieve your dreams. Your wife, María, your four children, and your parents are proud of the great captain who lifted the fifteenth trophy. It has been an exceptional year with a Supercopa, a La Liga title, and a Champions League, culminating with the European Championship with the national team. You should feel very proud to be part of a Spanish team that also won the Nations League. Nacho's career is one of the most brilliant in Real Madrid and Spanish football. We thank you, our affection, and our admiration. This will always be your home, you know that very well. Thank you very much, dear Nacho," he emphasized.
Pérez stated that the history of Real Madrid has always been built with the passion, talent, and commitment of legendary figures who defended its jersey and conveyed the values of the white club. All, he recalled, contributed to making the club "the most admired in the world," with hundreds of millions of people inspired by its emblem as a symbol of its values: work, commitment, dedication, and solidarity.
In this sense, he highlighted Nacho as an example of these values and as one of the "great players" in Real Madrid's history who has had an "exemplary career," making him a legend: "Nacho, we are proud to have had you for these 23 years. You arrived in 2002 at just ten years old and have played in all the lower categories of Real Madrid. You have been a key player in one of the most successful periods in our history," he recalled.
"In 2012, you became a first-team player. It is hard to imagine that the boy from then would become one of the players to reach Gento's record of six European Cups. And that, in 12 seasons, he would achieve a record number of titles, 24. All these titles have been won with the club's values stamped on them. That's why you have the right to choose your future," he explained.
The president of Real Madrid made it clear that Nacho's behavior and attitude will never be "forgotten" by those who saw the white defender grow, and he will be an example of overcoming for all children. "You never gave up and you rose above all adversities," he concluded before presenting him with the gold and diamond badge of the Madrid club.