un poco de todo in this news round-up

You know it’s a slow day when the major news story coming out of Wednesday was that José Mourinho spoke to Pedro León!  Plus, Cristiano, mamá Higuaín, more Juan Carlos, Pepe, Sergio C. and even Drenthe!

One. According to the Spanish news outlets, Mou called Peter Lion by name (wow!) and then spoke six words to him (they were instructions).  He also shouted words of encouragement.  Other good news: Fernando Gago and Raúl Albiol trained normally, and will most likely be ready to be called up for the game against Málaga.  The other unusual thing about the training session of yesterday was that they trained at the number 4 training ground, because their usual training ground was receiving treatment.

Two. An interesting stat: in each of the 21 games over this season and last where Cristiano has scored a goal or more, Madrid has won.

Three. Pipita’s mother Nancy Zacarías currently has an exhibition of her paintings going on at the Skimo gallery (C/Velázquez 111) in Madrid.  The exposition is entitled “Todo está como era entonces” (everything is like how it used to be).  Nancy herself was there at the inauguration yesterday, accompanied by husband Jorge “El Pipa,” and their sons Federico, Nicolás and Lautaro – everyone except Gonzalo, who’s on national team duty in Japan, but who had sent his mother a text message congratulating her.  The exposition will last until Oct. 29, and the paintings can be purchased – most of them are under €1,500.

Maybe I can bargain with Nancy – I buy a painting and she include as a bonus one of her sons (I’ll get to choose, of course)?  Picture via Marca.

Four. A look back at the past of my new favorite, Juan Carlos: his best friend is named José Luis, and they’ve been friends since they met at Madrid Oeste at the age of 6.  According to José Luis’ parents Montse and José, every night Juan Carlos would come to their house play Play, and that “he’s the right arm of our son and our son is his left arm.”  Four years ago, during Juan Carlos’ first year at Madrid, he came back to watch José Luis play.  According to José: “he came to see José Luis and it happened then.  My son broke his tibia and his fibula.  Juan Carlos jumped up from the stands and ran onto the field, crying.  He got there before the doctor.  He didn’t leave my son’s side for an instant, he was his support.  He’s exceptional.”  On Sunday, the entire family was there at the Bernabéu, invited by Juan Carlos.  José says, “when he was small, I always told him that he would play and triumph at Madrid.  We’re very proud of him, he’s like a son to us.”

Five. Pepe’s the cover boy of Marca today – throwing out the same old pose – and the interview is a bit boring by my standards.  The only things of note:

– when asked how his knee is, Pepe says, “estoy de puta madre” and laughs.

– asked if Raúl and Guti are missed, he says of course, since they were great captains and a reference, and also reveals that he follows their games, and is happy for Guti because things are going well for him.

Six. Sergio Canales, in an interview with AS, said that Mourinho frequently asked him and the doctors how his injury was evolving, and that he likes life in Madrid (both the club and the city).

Seven. Though he’s not playing with us this season, I can’t let this video of Royston Drenthe rapping go by.  It appears he’s collaborating with The Nach, a rapper from Alicante (for those of you who have succeeded in forgetting about him, his new club Hércules is based in Alicante).  But what was more interesting to me was that his girlfriend is pregnant again!  This would be their third kid, if I remember correctly.