If you’re in any of the Ghanaian cities affected by the lockdown recently declared by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Ghana’s head of state, we feel for you. If your own feeling of misery is due to the absence of football over the past few weeks, well, we share your pain, too.
If it helps, though, Daily Mail GH has compiled videos on your favorite European clubs that should help cheer you up until the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic eases its grip, the stay-at-home order is lifted, and football returns. Today, it’s the turn of Spanish giant Real Madrid.
Madrid don’t look like switching managers anytime soon, with Zinedine Zidane still overseeing the renaissance he was brought in for a year ago. Still, at a club where little remains same for long, nothing’s a given and president Florentino Perez always seems to have a name on speed dial should he ever get trigger-happy. One candidate whispered in the corridors of the Santiago Bernabeu is retired midfielder Xabi Alonso. Why, though? And which managerial boxes does the Fifa World Cup winner, a blanco for five years, tick?
2. FIGURING FIGO OUT
It remains one of the most controversial transfers in football history, and – two decades later — not many really understand the circumstances that led to Madrid’s bold acquisition of Luis Figo, archrivals Barcelona’s crown jewel and captain at the turn of the century. Well, wonder no more; get the low-down on it here.
3. THE STORY OF #13
Madrid are in the hunt for a record 14th Uefa Champions League title (a fourth in seven years), but a first-leg home loss to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City renders the task nearly impossible. Their 13th European crown (a record, still), secured only in a 2018 final that saw them beat last year’s kings Liverpool, feels recent enough, though. The tale of that occasion — Sergio Ramos’ game-changing take-down of Mohamed Salah, Gareth Bale’s stunning overhead kick, Loris Karius’ gifts, plus exclusive matchday footage — plays out here.
4. 118 IN 8…
Earlier this month, Madrid celebrated its 118th
birthday — same day Ghana turned 63, in fact — and the club released a video,
eight-and-a-half minutes long, that condensed some of the finest moments in its
existence. For your viewing pleasure, Daily
Mail GH has it here.
5. GRACIAS, CRISTIANO
Nine years, 450 goals, one man: the story of Cristiano Ronaldo’s career at Real Madrid is as good as any witnessed at the Bernabeu. And that’s why whoever was tasked with summarizing the Portuguese’s incredible legacy at the club had a pretty tough job. In less than seven minutes, you could be the judge of just how well it was done.
