Rafael Nadal switched from the iconic Centre Court to the stands of Anfield on Wednesday night to show his support for Real Madrid as they faced Liverpool in the Champions League. Recently retired from professional Tennis after his appearance at the Davis Cup in Malaga, Nadal, an ardent Madrid fan, was spotted enjoying the match from his seat.
However, it wasn't the kind of match Rafael Nadal would have expected heading into the stadium. Liverpool humbled Real Madrid with a dominating 2-0 scoreline at Anfield. Galacticos signing Kylian Mbappe missed converting a chance from the spot, which adds to the miseries of Madrid fans. After the fixture, Real Madrid found themselves reeling in the 24th spot of the UEFA Champions League standings, just a spot away from direct disqualification to the next round.
And here is the clip of Rafa singing "you never walk alone" 💕 (don't get after him ultras, he just loves a good atmosphere 😄)
— 𝓝𝓪𝓭𝓪➁➁𝓲𝓬𝓪¹⁴ 🇺🇦 (@Nadallica86) November 27, 2024
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Rafa's footballing tour
Rafa had an eventful day at the City Football Academy, where he confidently shared a hug with Pep Guardiola and engaged with several top stars.
At 38, the Spanish icon met with Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish, and Manuel Akanji during his visit to the Premier League champions' training centre.
A passionate football fan, Rafa used to be a promising footballing talent as a child before fully committing to his tennis career.
Nadal chose to forgo his signature headband look during this football tour, instead keeping warm with a cosy scarf to combat the cool Liverpool evening.
Rafa's first trip post-retirement
It's just over a week since the King of Clay expressed his emotions following his final match at home during the Davis Cup quarter-finals, a moment that truly showcased his deep connection with the crowd.
Throughout his illustrious career, he secured 22 Grand Slam titles, a record surpassed only by Novak Djokovic's 24 in the men's game.
In the retirement speech, Nadal said that the titles and numbers speak for themselves, and people are certainly aware of that. However, what he truly wanted to be remembered for was being a good person from a small village in Mallorca.