Nacho reveals what Real Madrid can expect from Mourinho’s return

Nacho Fernández (Alcalá de Henares, 1990) is enjoying a second chapter of his career in the Saudi Pro League. But the captain who lifted Real Madrid’s historic 15th European Cup has not forgotten that he is one of only five players to have won six Champions League titles, all of them with the club he loves.

The ultimate academy graduate, Nacho is preparing for his third season with Saudi club Al Qadisiyah. From the team’s preseason camp in Girona, he spoke to AS about his experience in Saudi Arabia and, of course, Real Madrid.

Life in Saudi Arabia

Nacho, it’s great to see you again. We keep up with the Saudi league thanks to players like you and Cristiano Ronaldo. You’re an undisputed starter and you seem happy, both professionally and personally.

Yes, Tomás, everything has been positive. I’m very happy here with my family. It’s a completely different experience from anything I had known during my career, but I’m at a club that is growing and competing with the best.

It also gives me a lot of peace of mind to see that my children are happy at their British school. The life we have there is very quiet. Honestly, I can’t find anything negative to say.

Of course, I miss Madrid a lot: my home, my friends and my people. But I’m doing well. I’m happy and enjoying myself.

It’s a different culture. Saudi Arabia sounds very far removed from our own, yet everyone who goes there says they are treated perfectly and feel comfortable.

Without a doubt. My wife lives a normal life, within the customs that you have to respect. We are the foreigners, after all.

But the way I’m treated, and the way my family is treated wherever we go, is excellent. As long as you respect everyone there, you won’t have any problems. Life is very good, although it gets extremely hot in the summer.

My family and I are happy in Arabia, no complaints. And we’re going to the Champions!

Nacho, to AS

And you’re competing at a high level. Al Qadisiyah will play in the Asian Champions League next season.

We’re competing against what you might call the four biggest clubs in Saudi Arabia, the ones with the most financial power.

It’s true that we haven’t quite been able to win the league or a trophy yet, but we’re on the right path. This year we’ve also qualified for the Asian Champions League, and I’m very excited to play in that competition, even though it’s different from the one in Europe.

You must be proud of your six Champions League titles with Real Madrid.

Winning all six with Madrid is something that will never be repeated in history. That’s something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.

It would also be special and beautiful to win six Champions League titles in Europe and another one here in Asia. That would make seven!

Mourinho and his return to Real Madrid

Let’s talk about your past at Real Madrid. With Mourinho returning for a second spell, we have to remember a special date: April 23, 2011, when you made your debut at Mestalla.

It was incredible. Playing in Valencia, knowing how difficult that stadium is for Madrid, and winning 6-3 was amazing.

You played at left back, if I remember correctly. I think Mourinho already saw your competitive mentality that day. What was that experience like? And now he’s back.

For me and for my entire family, Mourinho is a very special person.

He is the coach who changed my career, the man who gave me my debut and my opportunity. I made my debut that day, but I had already taken part in preseason camps under him.

After that game at Mestalla, many more appearances with the first team followed. Mourinho will always be special to me.

Quite apart from the fact that he is a great coach, which he is, for me and my family he is the coach, so to speak. What can I say? I wish him all the best in this second spell.

I think Madrid is getting the kind of coach it needs right now: someone who will push the players a little harder.

I remember that period as one of the best times of my life. Castilla was also doing very well at the time. That was where everything began for me at Real Madrid. I’m very happy and, of course, extremely grateful to Mourinho.

With Mourinho good things are coming for Real Madrid; he gave me my debut and will have the players fully committed

Nacho, to AS

Real Madrid cannot go two years without winning trophies. You know Mourinho well. Perhaps he can restore the competitive edge the club seemed to be losing.

What I know for certain is that I don’t know whether they will ultimately win trophies, because this is soccer and winning is never easy.

But he will have the players fully engaged. He will have them at 100%. Having experienced it from the inside, I can assure you that the intensity he demands in every training session and every game is absolute.

If the players and Mourinho are all pulling in the same direction, I have no doubt that good things are coming for Real Madrid.

Mourinho belongs to Real Madrid. He is a Madridista. That is important. He knows exactly what it means to win and lose at this club.

If the players are fully committed to him, there are some very exciting things ahead for Real Madrid.

“Nobody gifted me a single minute”

Carlo Ancelotti admitted to me after you left for Saudi Arabia: “You can really feel Nacho’s absence.” You understood the pressure of Real Madrid and could play equally well in all four defensive positions. The fans have missed you a lot.

It’s true that I feel the affection from the fans, the coaches and people inside the club who still write to me.

I always say that Real Madrid will continue winning, regardless of who is there. But a lot of people have told me exactly what you’re saying now.

Tomás, I’m someone who had to fight my entire life for every minute I played at Real Madrid. People might think that at certain points I became comfortable, but it was exactly the opposite.

From the first day of every season, I had to fight as hard as anyone. Nobody gifted me a single minute in that jersey.

The way I have always been, ever since I was a child, is summed up by what we say at Madrid: until the end.

What’s your secret?

I like working hard and giving everything. I was always ready whenever I was called upon to play.

As I said, it wasn’t an easy career, even though I spent many years at Madrid, because I was always competing against the best players.

Even so, I always managed to become one of the important players. In the end, I think I received my reward during my final years at Madrid, when I became captain and won everything.

You seem at peace with it all.

I loved fighting and competing for Real Madrid because it’s the club of my life.

I don’t regret any decision I’ve made. I don’t regret staying when I did, and I don’t regret leaving, because I believe it was the right time.

It’s actually more difficult to make that decision when things are going well, when you’re playing, when you’re captain and when you’ve just lifted the Champions League trophy. Leaving is harder under those circumstances than when things are going badly.

I don’t regret anything, Tomás. I’m extremely grateful to Madrid. It’s my home and it gave me everything.

But I also gave everything to the club, and that is what gives me peace of mind.

Lifting the 15th European Cup

There are images from that 15th European Cup triumph that Madrid fans will never forget. One is the penalty shootout at the Etihad, when you stepped up as if it were nothing. Pep Guardiola looked toward Juanma Lillo, wondering who Madrid’s penalty takers would be: Camavinga, Valverde or Brahim. Lillo told him, “No, it’s Nacho, Lucas and Rüdiger.” You took yours perfectly, at the Etihad, as captain. Then you left having lifted the trophy.

You have to know how to make those decisions properly. They’re difficult, particularly because I was leaving the place that had been my home for my entire life.

It was a lifetime devoted to Real Madrid.

You could choose two images: my debut at Mestalla and my final game, playing the entire match as captain and lifting the Champions League trophy.

But behind those two images was a lot of sacrifice, both from me and my family. There were many difficult days too.

Even so, I’m tremendously calm and happy with the way my career unfolded.

Lucas, Joselu and Carvajal are like my second family

Nacho, to AS

The importance of academy players

In that team that won the 15th, despite all the stars in the locker room, there were also you, Dani Carvajal, Lucas Vázquez and Joselu. You could feel the influence of the academy players. That presence has now declined. Lucas left last summer and Carvajal has now gone too. Has Madrid felt the departure of that stubborn core of homegrown players?

Of course. I have no doubt about it, and not only at Real Madrid.

At any club, it is important to have people who came through the system, and in Madrid’s case, Spanish players who have understood what Real Madrid represents since they were children.

You’re taught how to win, how to respect your opponent, how to always give your maximum and how to fight until the final minute.

I think those things are fundamental, especially at a club with the demands of Real Madrid.

Then, if you also have foreign players such as Luka Modrić or Toni Kroos, who almost became academy players themselves because they spent so many years absorbing the club’s philosophy, the result is all the trophies we won.

s it impossible to recreate that now?

I think soccer goes through different eras. It is very difficult for any team to maintain that throughout its entire history.

But if you work toward that as a club, you undoubtedly have a much better chance of winning trophies.

If everyone thinks only about themselves, it becomes more complicated. But remember, Madrid is Madrid.

Retirement and Cristiano Ronaldo

You’re 36. When I was young, players your age were considered retired, or clubs had already forced them out. Once you reached 30, people treated you like an old man. Yet we’ve just seen Cristiano’s last dance at the World Cup at 41, Luka at 40 and Messi at 39. You’re 36 and you look to be in perfect shape. How do players extend their careers for so long now? Can you see yourself continuing?

I can tell you that I feel the same now as I did during my last year at Real Madrid. I feel fantastic. I’m even slimmer.

My goal every year is to play every game and every minute, and I have achieved that during my two years in Saudi Arabia.

I think players now take much better care of themselves.

I could perhaps continue for as many years as Modrić or Cristiano, but I don’t see myself doing that.

I wouldn’t say I’m about to retire, but I will leave soccer while I still feel good, while I’m playing every game and performing at my best, just as I did at Madrid.

I will not allow soccer to retire me. I’m completely certain about that, and I think the moment will come sooner rather than later.

You played with Cristiano. He left Madrid at 33, eight years ago, and he is still going. He has now played in six World Cups and scored in all of them. You know him, and he’s playing in the same league as you. He won’t stop until he scores his 1,000th official goal. He only needs 24 more.

He definitely won’t stop. Knowing him, there is no chance.

His life is about breaking records. It’s incredible. It always looks like something might finally be beyond him, but in the end he achieves everything he sets out to do.

It’s admirable that, at 41, he is still competing with the same enthusiasm he had on the first day, despite all the games, all the travel and all the time spent away from home.

He still has the same excitement he had when he started playing at five years old.

He won’t stop until he reaches 1,000 goals. I’ve been playing against him over the last few years, and it’s incredible to see his ability to wake up every morning and keep competing.

Spain and his international career

Spain had a great World Cup.

Yes, I followed it and, as a proud Spaniard, I was very excited about the national team. [Spain beat Argentina in the final to lift the 2026 World Cup]

Many of the players were former teammates of mine. I can assure you that no national team wanted to face us. There must be a reason for that.

I’m enormously happy for them, truly, from the bottom of my heart, especially because there are many people inside that team for whom I have great affection.

A second star, and hopefully many more will come, God willing.

People shouldn’t forget that you made 24 appearances for Spain and won trophies. I remember you coming onto the field late in the European Championship final against England in place of Robin Le Normand.

My career with the national team was short, but very intense and very beautiful.

I didn’t play many games, but I played in knockout rounds, round-of-16 games, quarterfinals and finals.

I won two trophies with Spain, a European Championship and a Nations League.

As I said, it was short, but intense and very special. What more could I ask for?

The only thing missing would have been winning the World Cup, but that is another level entirely.

I did manage to score a World Cup goal, though, and I’ll always have that.

It was in Sochi against Portugal at the 2018 World Cup, the goal that made it 3-2. I was in the stands and lost my voice because you scored a spectacular goal from outside the box.

It was a very difficult game.

In the third minute, I gave away a penalty against Cristiano and they took the lead. We responded and made it 2-2.

Then I scored what looked like it might be the winning goal, but they equalized near the end.

My international career was incredible. Going to Plaza de Colón and seeing the entire country wearing Spain jerseys gives me goosebumps, with the streets packed with people in national team colors.

I was disappointed that you stopped receiving call-ups after moving to Saudi Arabia. From a performance standpoint, I didn’t think you had declined at all. You looked like the same player.

I think several things came together.

I chose to leave Real Madrid because I still wanted to compete at the same level, obviously. But I was also 34, and perhaps the coach wanted to make the national team younger.

After we won the European Championship, I never discussed the matter with Luis de la Fuente, but there was no problem at all.

I only have words of gratitude for Luis.

Even while we were competing at the European Championship, he helped me in every way possible to finalize my move to my current club. He supported me with everything I needed.

I won two trophies with Spain under Luis. I have no complaints. Every game I played for Spain was special.

Cucurella and Real Madrid

What do you think of Real Madrid signing Marc Cucurella?

The right word is: tremendous signing.

Intensity, 100% commitment, always ready to fight for his team. He has the perfect qualities to play for Real Madrid.

I also think he is exactly the kind of player the club needs right now, at a moment when that intensity is required.

I know Cucurella personally, and of course I wish him all the luck in the world.

I’m completely certain he will continue fulfilling his dreams and achieving his goals at Real Madrid. I wish him the very best.

Growing up with diabetes

There’s something I wanted to revisit because it could serve as an example for many children. You were diagnosed with diabetes when you were young. It might have prevented you from becoming an elite player. Instead, perhaps it helped make you more disciplined. How did you process it in a way that prevented it from affecting your career?

It was very difficult to accept at first.

Things were harder back then. Diabetes was less visible and less understood.

I remember the first day I was told I would have to stop playing soccer.

What?

Imagine it. I was a child who was proud to play for Real Madrid. I went into the hospital on a Friday, and they told me I would have to quit soccer because of diabetes.

I spent the entire weekend devastated until Monday, when my endocrinologist came in and said, “No, absolutely not. Who told you that?”

You can imagine the weekend I spent in that hospital.

At the time, I didn’t care about diabetes or anything else. All I could think about was that soccer was over for me.

It was extremely difficult. I still carry it with me as something very painful that I experienced at such a young age.

But in the end, life put everything in its proper place.

Perhaps having this illness made me more responsible and forced me to take better care of myself.

What now gives me the greatest joy is all the people who write to me: parents and children with the same condition who look at my example and realize that it is possible to achieve their dreams.

That is something to be grateful for.

In the end, the illness made me more responsible and encouraged me to take better care of myself.

But it can also be a disadvantage because the level of control required is very high: meals, insulin and game schedules.

It is already difficult to reach the elite level without an illness, so imagine doing it while managing diabetes.

But nothing is impossible.

If I achieved it, any child or any person can do it. Sports, and soccer in my case, are fundamental in helping manage this kind of condition.

His bond with the Castilla generation

You still have a personal relationship with your former teammates from that successful Castilla side that earned promotion to the second division. We often see you on vacation with Lucas, Carvajal and Joselu. You still have that close-knit core.

Without a doubt.

As I always say, my time with Castilla was perhaps one of the most beautiful stages of my life.

That promotion created a bond that continued into the first team, where we won so much together and enjoyed so many happy years.

It’s inevitable that the connection is still alive.

We still go on vacation together, see each other and talk on the phone every week.

There are people who are not related to you by blood but whom you consider family.

Lucas, Joselu and Carvajal are part of my family. That is something that will last forever.

A future return to Real Madrid

When the day comes, which you’ve suggested may not be too far away, can you see yourself returning to Madrid in some capacity after you retire, perhaps as an ambassador or in another role?

Tomás, for many years now, ever since I began working with my psychologist, I’ve tried to live one day at a time.

It may sound like I’m avoiding your question, but right now I’m enjoying soccer.

I want to preserve the excitement I still feel when I wake up to play games.

When I stop playing, of course various possibilities will come to mind, and I’ll think about them then.

I can see you going home.

Real Madrid is my home, that’s true.

I can’t tell you in what role, but whatever they need, I’ll be there without any doubt.

I haven’t thought about what I’ll do or how I’ll do it after soccer.

Madrid is my home, and if they ever call me because they need something, I’ll be there.

The farewell he never needed

I have one regret. I would have liked Madrid to give you a farewell like the ones Carvajal and Modrić received.

I’ll be honest with you: Madrid treated me so well that nothing else was necessary.

This all happened shortly before the final at Wembley. The club already had some idea that I was likely to leave, but the president, José Ángel Sánchez and everyone else treated me very well.

They told me they would wait until I had signed with another club.

They also advised me against holding a farewell at the final league game, because perhaps I wouldn’t find an offer that appealed to me and might end up staying.

Would a farewell have been beautiful? Yes, it would have been.

Did I need one? No.

I already have the affection of the people and everything I experienced with our fans at the Bernabéu.

They know I gave my life to Real Madrid. I don’t need the applause of 80,000 fans. I received it throughout my entire career.

Enough said.

Once I signed for Al Qadisiyah, the first person who wanted to organize a farewell for me was the president.

I can only speak well of Real Madrid and Florentino Pérez. They looked after me until the very last day.

They still look after me even now.

You can be completely at peace. The fans adore you and you left a legacy. Players like you, Dani and Lucas made us very happy.

I hope people remember us as homegrown players who gave every last drop of sweat for our Real Madrid.

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