Rudy Fernández Honored Before Real Madrid Match

Rudy Fernández, the legendary basketball player, was honored during the kickoff of the La Liga match between Mallorca and Real Madrid. Fans at the Son Moix stadium gave him a warm standing ovation before the game began.

Rudy recently announced his retirement as a professional player. Over his impressive 13 seasons with Real Madrid, he won an astonishing 26 trophies, which includes three European Cups and seven Leagues. He is one of the most celebrated players in the history of the club.

His achievements don’t stop there; Rudy is also a giant in Spanish basketball history. This summer, he became the first men’s basketball player to play in six Olympic Games, having represented Spain 266 times. His impressive track record includes two World Cup victories and four European Championships.

Meanwhile, as the new La Liga season begins, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is gearing up for another challenge. This season marks his 28th year as a manager and his sixth at the helm of Madrid.

Ancelotti is acclaimed for his tactical prowess and has a solid record in opening matches. Historically, in each of the five La Liga opening games he’s managed, Madrid has secured three points.

However, following a recent 1-1 draw against Mallorca, tensions simmered in the dressing room. The team expressed strong frustrations about the referee, Soto Grado, whose decisions they felt were questionable during the match.

Players and staff discussed more than just game tactics but how Grado’s officiating could impact their season. Complaints included not only missed calls but also the lack of a foul call during a contentious incident involving star player Kylian Mbappe.

This isn’t the first time the Madrid camp felt disgruntled with Grado’s officiating, recalling a previous encounter against Osasuna where they felt the referee dismissed their concerns about added time.