Real Madrid’s Champions League party: Speeches, cigars, Carvajal’s dad on horseback

By
James BAOUCH
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Real Madrid’s Champions League celebrations back home on Sunday began with reflections on divine intervention and ended in midnight fireworks at a packed Santiago Bernabeu, as Dani Carvajal’s dad assisted their police escort through Spain’s capital on horseback.

At the city’s Almudena Cathedral, archbishop Jose Cobo Cano said he “didn’t know which team Jesus, son of Mary, would be on” but that he “surely appreciates this trophy”.

Antonio Rudiger, who is a practising Muslim, listened attentively. Team captain Nacho approached the trophy towards the altar and hundreds of immaculately-dressed children climbed on benches to get a better view of their heroes.

The next stop was Madrid’s regional government building. There, overlooking the city-centre square at the Puerta del Sol, Toni Kroos came out onto the balcony and was regaled with chants of “Toni, stay!”.

Just like with their trophy procession after winning La Liga, Madrid were headed for the Cibeles fountain (where a statue honours Cybele, a Phrygian deity), a tradition that dates back to the 1980s.


Nacho places a Real Madrid scarf around the Cibeles statue (Thomas Coex/AFP via Getty Images)

But first the mayor of Madrid, Jose Luis Martinez Almeida, received them, too. Known for being an Atletico Madrid fan, Carlo Ancelotti’s players had asked him to come wearing a Real Madrid top. He arrived with a wink to a few, wearing a white dress shirt.

“What colour am I in? White, right? Well, that’s it,” he told The Athletic. “I am very happy, as mayor, of Real Madrid’s triumphs, but my heart is red and white striped and that is very difficult to change, if not impossible.”

Later he presented a gift to Carvajal, Luka Modric, Kroos and Nacho in recognition of their own remarkable individual achievement. Victory over Borussia Dortmund meant they have each won the Champions League a joint-record six times, matching the landmark set in 1966 by legendary former Madrid winger Paco Gento, who died in 2022.

For his part, Florentino Perez remembered Madrid’s legendary former president Santiago Bernabeu, whom he has just surpassed in European Cup victories. “He showed us the way to face the future,” said Perez, for whom Saturday brought a seventh such title.

It signalled the end of formalities. Now they were headed for Cibeles — and the thousands of supporters gathered there.

“It might be the best season of my entire career,” Ancelotti said in a brief word with The Athletic before boarding the team bus. “What’s left for me in the future? I still have another Champions League.”


Carlo Ancelotti poses with the Champions League trophy on Sunday (Pedro Castillo/Real Madrid via Getty Images)

Davide Ancelotti, Carlo’s son and assistant coach, also stopped. “You don’t have to get used to this,” he said. “You have to enjoy it now, but then you have to win others. I’m happy to spend time with my father, to work at the best club in the world and to enjoy it. The motivation is the day to day.

“Can I imagine living this as a head coach? Yes, yes, of course I dream of it,” continued Davide, who acknowledged that it is a “success” to be known by the Madrid fanbase by his first name.

The atmosphere was one of loose, unbridled joy. Some fans couldn’t hold back their emotions. Others felt the need to run out in front of the team bus and the mounted police surrounding it, trying to get just that little bit closer and risking being run over in doing so. Madrid’s coach was escorted by police officers on horseback. Among them was Carvajal’s father.

According to the club, he has been in an administrative police job in recent years, but after his son’s goal at Wembley he decided to help escort the team on their way to Cibeles. He quickly became another of the heroes of the party and even posed in Cibeles with the Champions League trophy. According to the local government, more than 250,000 people lined the streets.


Madrid’s open-top bus on Sunday in the Spanish capital (Diego Radames/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Kroos addressed the crowds and announced who was going to be the heir of his No 8 shirt. “For now it’s free,” the German 34-year-old said. “I have a question: do you have an idea of who could replace me? For me it’s a pleasure to give the number to this guy, Fede Valverde.”

Ancelotti also asked the young and shy Arda Guler to say a few words. “We are a family,” said the Turkish midfielder, perhaps a little overawed by the situation but very cheerful.

There was also the ‘cigar moment’ with Carlo, Davide and coach Francesco Mauri smoking while Vinicius Junior led the rest with his dancing rhythm, even though they were exhausted. In fact, that’s why the club didn’t organise a collective dinner for Sunday. The players had arrived back from London at 6am that morning, taking their dressing room party straight to the departure lounge.

But there was still time to go to the Santiago Bernabeu, where about another 80,000 people stayed until midnight to see their idols for the last time this season.

There, Bellingham showed off his ever-improving Spanish by giving his first interview in the language, on Real Madrid TV. “I’m very happy because I’ve got all my family here,” he said. “This team is incredible. Working with them every day is a pleasure. Very, very happy.”

“See you next season!” shouted Modric, who thus assured his continuity in the team. “I love you,” said Kroos, who, despite the numerous gestures of affection, did not change his mind on retiring.


Nacho lifts the Champions League trophy, one more time (Antonio Villalba/Real Madrid via Getty Images)

After lifting the Champions League trophy for the umpteenth time in 24 hours and a huge fireworks display inside the stadium, Nacho took the floor again.

The captain didn’t clarify his future, but he let out a phrase that leaves the door open to his staying on, with his contract also set to expire.

“We are the kings of Europe, of the world, of the universe,” he said. “Hopefully we can continue to make history.”

By this time, the Bernabeu pitch was almost entirely covered in ticker tape and confetti. The stadium lights began to fade, the show was over. Fans headed slowly to the exits.

But the children and younger brothers and sisters of Madrid’s players were still full of energy.

They took the precious trophy and, as if it were a toy, shook it and lifted it up to the cheers of the thousands who remained behind, for one more round of cheers.

(Top photo: Diego Souto/Getty Images)



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