Madrid bits & pieces

If you’re in Madrid today, take advantage of the team opening up their training session (11h) to the public for El Día de los Reyes and go watch Iker, Sergio, Pipa, Calleti and co. practice!  You’re guaranteed to see a lot of laughter, hugs and bromas, which our boys have become known for!

In the meantime, here’s everything else that has been happening…

Madrid returned to training on Thursday morning, after a one-day break following their Copa del Rey comeback win against Málaga.  Sergio Ramos returned to the group dynamic, showing that he has recovered from his injury.  Three canteranos joined the first team in this session – Álex, Nacho and MFC Álvaro Borja Morata Martín.  Pepe was absent, as he’s still recovering from the bruise to his ribs that he suffered against Málaga, and Ángel di María is still on the mend as well.

It’s always a pleasure to see The Four Musketeers together!

In the early afternoon, the book produced by newspaper ABC “Historia del Real Madrid contada por ABC” (The History of Real Madrid, as told by ABC) was presented at the stadium.  FP was present, as well as Alfredo di Stéfano, Emilio Butragueño, Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos.  Xabi and Sergio are great salespeople/models, no?  Xabi just exudes elegance, and makes anything he’s holding elegant, while Sergio’s smile is so appealing!  In the end, whatever they want you to do, you’ll do.

I love the picture of Xabi and FP, because you can tell that Xabi was much more interested in what was on his iPhone than what FP was trying to show him.  Jajaja!  And Sergio with kids?  A winning combination!

There was a big, huge, gigantic fail at the event though.  I think the event organizer used to work at Telecinco.  Poor Xabi had to stare at that for the entire event.  I wonder if he felt the urge to take out a pen and correct it himself.

Meanwhile, Iker Casillas was in Móstoles, helping to inaugurate the avenue bearing his name, the Avenida de Iker Casillas (the former Avenida de los Deportes was thus renamed).  This is the latest honor for Iker from Móstoles, his hometown.  He received the Town Hall’s Gold Medal in September 2008 and was named a Favorite Son in 2010.  A football field has also been named after him, he has opened the city’s annual fiesta, and he’s received various other awards from the city, such as the City of Móstoles Award for Spreading the Image of the City.  The acting mayor of the city, Daniel Ortiz, said of Iker, “it’s an honor that Iker has given his name to a street in the city because he represents the best values: humility, the ability to sacrifice and overcome, and the preservation of his roots.  He is the best icon the city has and its foremost ambassador, an example for everyone.”

Iker helped to unveil a granite monolith situated at the intersection of Calle Granada and his avenue, which is one of the main thoroughfares of the city.  The plaque on the front of the monolith says, “Iker Casillas, champion of the world and of Europe with the Spanish national team, is the footballer who has defended the colors of our team the most number of times.  He’s the author of the famous phrase, ‘I’m not a galáctico, I’m from Móstoles,’ and an icon of society for his values of humility and effort.  He’s received City of Móstoles award, the Gold Medal and he’s a Favorite Son of the city.”  On top, there’s an image of Iker etched using a laser.  The original photograph was ceded to the city by the RFEF’s photographer, Carmelo Rubio, who is also from Móstoles.  As for the date, Nov. 24, 2011, that was the day that Móstoles’ local government passed the proposal to rename the avenue after Iker, despite an unwritten agreement not to name any streets after living persons.  That just shows how special Iker is, no?

While speaking to the press (which mobbed him, as you can see below), Iker said he would ask the Reyes Magos for “health, as well as joy and hope to start the new year off well and to get as far as possible in the three competitions” and said how happy he was to give his name to an avenue in Móstoles.  Iker also responded to Mou’s declarations of what Christmas vacation is for: “Christmas vacation is for resting, disconnecting, spending time with your family, doing other things… and to think about football, no?”

Iker wasn’t too badly dressed for the event!  He looked pretty good!

For his part, Iker received an allegorical painting depicting the special relationship he has with his hometown.  Iker is probably thinking, “¿Pero que coño es esto?”  If the town paid money to have that done, it was wasted money…

After that, Iker headed to the Hospital Universitario de Móstoles to play the part of a Rey Mago and hand out gifts to children there.  By the way, the new Avenida de Iker Casillas is 1.9 kilometers long, and goes through the center of Móstoles, from the roundabout of C/Granada to the Iker Casillas Football Fields and the El Soto Park, passing through parks, neighborhoods and sports centers along the way.

And, Iker’s mother Mari Carmen attended the event, as did Iker’s 84-year-old grandmother Nicasia Casillas (“I’m not the famous grandmother of Iker, I’m the grandmother of Iker”), though she didn’t have time to talk with her grandson “because there were too many people.”  She told COPE that she likes José Mourinho, saying that “he’s very nice and affectionate, I have a great impression of him.  And he also has a good impression of me,” although they have never met.  She also revealed that as a kid, Iker received a lot of toys and clothes from the Three Kings, and that she no longer makes rosquillas, because no one eats them anymore, “Iker likes them, but he doesn’t come by very often.”  The presenters then asked her who her favorite grandson is, Iker or Unai, and Nicasia responded, “both, I love all my grandchildren, but Iker is the oldest and the one who has spent the most time at home.”  She went on to say that Iker is very affectionate with her, and that he has been this way since he was small, that he hasn’t changed a bit.  And when asked if she liked Iker’s girlfriend, she responded, “I’m not going to say anything else.”  Jajaja!!!  She is as spirited as Soledad!

Over in Qater, two madridistas met: Raúl and Rafa Nadal!  Schalke 04 is spending their winter break training in Qatar, while Rafa is playing a tournament.  Schalke’s team went to watch the game, and Raúl met up with Rafa after!

Speaking of Raúl, check out this video of our former captain in his car, “conducting” the song that Schalke’s fans have dedicated to him: “Señor Raúl.”

Looking ahead to this weekend’s game: Marca held a chat with our former canterano Fran Rico, who is playing with Granada now.  He answered questions about whether he would celebrate a goal against Madrid (yes, out of respect for the Granada fans) and how he sees Castilla this year (very well, I follow them closely because I’m still friends with my former teammates and I maintain a good relationship with the míster).  But I think this was my favorite question and answer: “Hi Fran.  Tell your father to put calamari on the menu in the restaurant he has, I went and they didn’t have it.”  The response: “I’ll tell him, but try the Acosta baby squid, which is very similar, and the octopus rice.”  Yum, pulpo from Galicia!

And finally, two of our boys posted pictures of themselves as kids on twitter.  Sergio was an adorable little shepherd!  And I see that the attraction to shiny things started at a young age.  Meanwhile, Nuri and his mom are so cute, no?  I think Nuri looks a bit like Cristiano!  The big cap helps…