Madrid

If any of you happen to live in Madrid or close to the capital and have some spare time this evening, then you have a golden opportunity to attend the Wanda Metropolitano and watch Lionel Messi in action.

Zinedine Zidane said 'yes' to a Real Madrid return, and in the process banished the spectre of José Mourinho, who a jittery Florentino Pérez had been toying with bringing back...

Cristiano Ronaldo arrived back in Madrid yesterday ahead of one of the most appealing ties in the Champions League Round of 16, the very same day that Luis Rubiales outlined a new proposal for Spanish football...

I like the Madrid derby. To some degree, more than the Clásico, perhaps because that game has become so global that it doesn't really feel like it's mine.

'Athletic, Athletic, club de limpia tradición...' That was the first anthem I knew of the old and beloved Athletic Club, 'world football's unique case', as L'Équipe once wrote.

Watching River Plate out there parading the trophy, I thought of Alfredo Di Stéfano, who I saw taste success so many times on the same pitch...

Maybe it coincides with reading Sergio del Molino's latest book, ‘Lugares fuera de sitio’ (Out of place locations) that inspired me with today's headline.