Nacho Fernandez has paid a special visit to Santiago Bernabeu to bid his final farewell to Real Madrid.
After 23 years at the club, Nacho is leaving for Saudi Arabian side Al Qadsiah.
In a private ceremony closed to fans and media at the club house and attended by his teammates, former players and Madrid president Florentino Pérez, an emotional Nacho said: “It’s the most beautiful ending I could have imagined. I leave as captain and having had the honour of lifting the 15th European Cup.
“I leave because I wanted another experience in my career and face new challenges. I want to be remembered as a youth player that gave his all to the club.
“I have grown up for almost 24 years in the best club in the world. Real Madrid has taught me to win and lose, but above all to live. This club is everything to me. I say goodbye knowing that I have given my all for this club.”
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has said a befitting farewell to the departing club legend, Nacho Fernandez.
“Nacho’s is a really nice story, that of a youth player who becomes captain of the first team and wins six Champions Leagues,” Courtois remarked of Nacho via MARCA.
“I think he represents very well what it means to be a Real Madrid fan, to be a Real Madrid player, and for this dressing room he has always been a key person.
“Nacho is pure Madridismo and he is an example for the locker room and those to come.”
Highlighting his abilities as a captain, Courtois exclaimed that Nacho’s leadership was especially pivotal last season when the team was going through an injury crisis, with many casualties in defence.
“He is an exemplary captain. With the injured players this season, he has always been helping us and making sure we were fine,” he stated.
