Every time there is a derby in Madrid, high tension is expected. During Cristiano Ronaldo’s time at Real Madrid, this was no exception, especially when Atlético Madrid were also a frequent rival in the Champions League. Former player Raúl García told a story about the famous “espaldinha” incident.
In an interview with former Atlético Madrid midfielder Mario Suárez, who hosts the “El camino de Mario” podcast, García said he has always been respectful and that is the most important thing for him, but that time he lost his mind.
García said: “I hate losing. That day it came from my soul. I most likely said something like ‘I will rip your head off.’ It comes from inside. It’s a subject that is in the past. Every time I talked to him, respect was always there. What happens on the field must stay there.”
Ronaldo’s “espaldinha” context
The heated rivalry that has marked these clubs’ history never stops, but the 2010s may have been the best era for this matchup, partly because Atlético Madrid were a rival for Real Madrid like few before them.
García was a captain during his time at Atlético Madrid (Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
The episode García recalled was from a La Liga match in the 2010-11 season. With Real Madrid leading 2-0, Ronaldo crossed from the left and goalkeeper David De Gea punched the ball high back toward the forward.
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Ronaldo’s decision was not a conventional one, as he used his back to pass the ball to a teammate in a play that almost ended in a Sergio Ramos goal. Part of what García told him at the time was believed to be a complaint that the Portuguese would not have made if the score had been 0-0.
