Zinedine Zidane and Florentino Pérez, unexpected divorce
31st May. A farewell letter from Zinedine Zidane appears in the sports daily As in which he criticises and attacks his president Florentino Pérez.
The French star joined Real Madrid CF in 2001 and, as he himself says: "I have had the great honour of being a player and coach of the most important club in history, but above all I am just another madridista".
On the football pitch it will be difficult to find a player with the class and style of the Frenchman. No doubt after Pelé, Di Stéfano, Maradona, Messi and Cristiano, he is next on the list. There are even fans who include him in this level. A legend as a player.
As a coach he takes charge of the first team in a complicated situation. He comes straight from Castilla.
He leaves everyone surprised by his unbeatable results, especially in the Champions League. A historic record: three Champions League titles in a row.
A Madrid idol respected by everyone. Madridistas and non-Madridistas alike respect him perhaps because of his exquisite education, his temperance and, let's not kid ourselves, his extraordinary results.
In his farewell letter he thanks Florentino for having brought him to the best club in history and proclaims himself to be another madridista.
But in it he criticises the club: "It no longer gives me the confidence I need, it doesn't offer me the support to build something in the medium or long term".
"They have forgotten everything I have built on a day-to-day basis, what I have contributed in the relationship with the players, with the one hundred and fifty people who work with and around the team".
These criticisms may be understandable. He is not given the confidence he needs and the support to build something. ....
What does this mean, that Ramos is not renewed at 14.5 million for two years without a 10% discount that all his colleagues have accepted and at the age of 35?
That Lucas Vázquez is not renewed and his salary is raised considerably because he had a very good season, but without remembering that the previous two seasons he was practically unnoticed and his salary was not lowered?
That Varane is not paid ten million for his renewal for another ten million years and they want to use him to facilitate the arrival of two great players like Mbappé and Haaland?
That Marcelo and Isco earn 18 million between them, practically don't play and should be kept for "memory"?
Well, in my opinion, the president should always look after the interests of the club, but today, even more so, for the reasons of the pandemic, the economic crisis and the construction of a huge stadium.
Despite "being who you are", the economy is the basis for continuing to be the best football club in the world. And to have the best professionals in its team.
If not, let's look at where many historic teams are, with exceptional fans. Or just look at our main rival, the difficulties it is going through. And how well our rival in Madrid is doing thanks to a magnificent economic management, Atlético de Madrid.
It sounds like the criticism of a child who is not given what he asks for. But well, he is Zidane, an idol of madridismo and he will not be taken into account, at least by me.
But there is another part that I do find very serious: "It hurt me a lot when I read in the press, after a defeat, that they were going to sack me if I didn't win the next game. It hurt me and the whole team because these messages intentionally leaked to the media created negative interference with the squad, created doubts and misunderstandings".
This, gentlemen, is very serious. The president is being accused of intentionally leaking in order to damage the coach and put pressure on the players.
If true, this is intolerable in a president of the best club. It shows a lack of seriousness and rigour and reminds us of the worst presidents of yesteryear who handled the press.
And if it's not true, "dear Zidane, you've gone three times too far". And the 20 years you've been at the club have been for nothing. You don't understand this club, which is not a nursery.
The president can't go around denying every journalist who publishes an article or makes a comment on radio or television.
If it is not true, I think that, Zinedine, you are not well advised by your coaching staff, by your entourage and by the players who seem to think only of themselves despite beating their chests like the greatest madridistas.
It's not the best thing for the club. If you are a madridista you are not showing it. By attacking the president you are also attacking the club.
These problems are talked about at home, in Valdebebas or the Bernabéu, not in a newspaper, because it looks like a tantrum.
You've been at Madrid for 20 years with Florentino. If what you say is true and you can prove it, do it. For the good of Real Madrid CF, and continue to be a gentleman.
If not, what a shame that an ill-advised idol will kill the immaculate image that all football fans have of him.
