Rafael Nadal is considered one of the top tennis players ever and is a devoted Real Madrid supporter.
Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam winner and Olympic gold medallist, became a fan of Real Madrid due to his family’s long-standing support, especially from his father.
Interestingly, Nadal chose to support Madrid even with his uncle, Miguel Angel Nadal, having played for Barcelona.
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In 2018, Real Madrid was a leading force in football, becoming the first team ever to win three straight Champions League titles by defeating Liverpool 3-1 in the final.
Shortly after that, in a surprising move, manager Zinedine Zidane announced his resignation.
Nadal shared his thoughts on this unexpected news.
Rafael Nadal expressed surprise over Zidane’s resignation from Real Madrid
On May 31, 2018, Zidane stated he was leaving due to a lack of support from the club.
In a letter published on AS, Zidane mentioned: “I’m leaving because I feel the club no longer has the faith in me I need, nor the support to build something in the medium or long term.”
“I understand football and I know the demands of a club like Real Madrid. I know when you don’t win, you have to leave.
“I’m a natural-born winner and I was here to win trophies, but more importantly, the people, their feelings, and life itself matter. I feel these things have not been considered.”
“There has been a failure to understand that these factors also maintain the essence of a great club. To some extent, I have even been rebuked for it.”
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The day after Zidane’s announcement, Nadal expressed his disappointment.
“I was a bit surprised logically because he had said he wanted to continue,” Nadal said, according to the Daily Express.
“It’s not a pleasant day for the family, as he’s a wonderful person.
“He’s done a lot of good for the club and is regarded as one of the best coaches globally, having had incredible success as a player and coach. He has maintained exceptional behavior throughout.”
“In tough times, he always wears a smile. He never criticizes referees, players, or the club.”
Zidane awarded Rafael Nadal his first Grand Slam trophy
Nadal won his first Grand Slam title at the French Open in 2005.
At age 19, he defeated Mariano Puerta 6–7, 6–3, 6–1, 7–5 in the final.
After the match, Zidane, then a Real Madrid player, presented both Nadal and Puerta with their trophies.
Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images
Nadal went on to claim 13 more French Open titles, with the last one achieved in 2022.
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