FOCUS – The Paris locker room is full of former Real Madrid players who have accounts to settle with Casa Blanca. Overview.
How we meet … If Real Madrid tried everything to secure the services of Kylian Mbappé last summer, PSG managed to get their hands on several former White House. Two of them went directly from Real to Paris, Sergio Ramos – package Tuesday in the round of 16 first leg of C1 – and Keylor Navas. Angel Di Maria and Achraf Hakimi arrived on the banks of the Seine after wearing the colors of Manchester United and Inter Milan. The future will tell if these four players will play a nasty trick on their former team. Back on their journey with the Merengues.
Di Maria, decimates her and then leaves
Poached in 2010 from Benfica, Angel Di Maria saw his future darken at Real after the recruitment of Gareth Bale in 2013. Taking advantage of some injuries, he nevertheless managed to prove himself valuable in the conquest of La Decima (the 10th C1 Real)… in the middle, with 11 goals and 25 assists this season. Alas, the buying fever of Casa Blanca sent Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez to Castile and Di Maria… to Manchester United. All after Real deprived “Fideo” of the 2014 World Cup final with Argentina due to an injury picked up in the quarter-finals. The person concerned was ready to play under painkillers. “I immediately understood what was happening. Everyone had heard the rumors around James Rodriguez. I knew they were going to sell me to make room for him. They didn’t want me to be hurt. It was easy. It’s the football business that nobody sees“Explained the best passer in the history of PSG, in 2018, via The Players Tribune . Di Maria revenge? He stood out with a double during Real’s last visit to the Parc des Princes, in 2019 (3-0).
Angel Di Maria at Real Madrid (2010-14): 190 appearances, 36 goals, 85 assists
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Navas, never considered at its fair value
After enjoying the heyday of Albacete and Levante, Keylor Navas joined the ranks of Real after a brilliant 2014 World Cup. First as an understudy for Iker Casillas, then as a starter from 2015-16. With him, the Casa Blanca would win three consecutive crowns in the Champions League. But Navas was never really perceived as a taulier by certain decision-makers at the Madrid club. After having flirted with him for a long time, President Perez recruited Thibault Courtois in 2018, putting the two doormen in competition. A year later, the Costa Rican responded to the Parisian sirens. “I felt like part of the club didn’t believe in me“, he said in the PSG Magazine, at the beginning of 2021. And to continue: “I feel everyone’s affection here in Paris. Everyone believes in me and I try to give them that confidence back with every game.Since then, PSG have put Gianluigi Donnarumma in his shoes. History repeats itself for the 35-year-old goalkeeper who has to share playing time with the Italian.
Keylor Navas at Real Madrid (2014-19): 162 matches, 159 goals conceded, 52 clean sheets
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Hakimi, the hope that blossomed far from Madrid
A native of Madrid, passed by the youth teams of Real and Castilla, Achraf Hakimi is a child of Casa Blanca. “It’s a club that I have in my heart for all that it has given me, it has shaped me as a person and as a player“, underlines the Moroccan international of 23 years for Mark . However, he only wore the Madrid jersey for 17 matches (2 goals) before being loaned for two seasons to Dortmund (2018-20) then transferred to Inter Milan for 43 M€. Taking advantage of the Lombard club’s financial difficulties, Paris lured it into its net last summer for more than €60 million excluding bonuses. “I feel very comfortable, like at home“, assures the one that Kylian Mbappé sees as”the best right back in the world“. Trusting Dani Carvajal, Real preferred to fill its coffers by selling its nugget. “When I left for Inter they still had a buyout clause but they didn’t execute it. So I think Madrid didn’t want to bet on me as much as other clubs“Squeaks Achraf Hakimi, who will have a lot to prove against Real.
Achraf Hakimi at Real Madrid (2006-20): 17 matches, 2 goals, 1 assist
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Sergio Ramos, “maximum leader”
Sergio Ramos and Real, a love story that lasted 16 seasons, from 2005 to 2021, with four Champions League titles and a hundred goals, among other achievements. A jailer? More than that: a “maximo leader”, which made rain and shine in the locker room. The Andalusian rock did not hide his disappointment when leaving the Bernabeu last summer. In summary, Ramos wanted a two-year contract while Real Madrid only offered him one. A proposal… limited in time. “I never wanted to leave Real Madridhe said during his farewell press conference. “No one had given me an ultimatum. We were in negotiations and when I was informed. I made it known that I accepted the last offer, but I don’t hold a grudge“, he added. A little anyway… Bitterness, but above all the fond memory of a part of his career and his life. “Fate is very capricious and I would have liked to face another team“, admitted the 35-year-old Spanish international at the end of 2021, after the draw. And to add:You know the affection and love I have for Real Madrid. This will never change.Ramos is out of the first leg.
Sergio Ramos at Real Madrid (2005-21): 671 appearances, 101 goals, 40 assists
