Osasuana 2-1 Real Madrid
What a difference a year makes. Last year, Higuaín's goal in Pamplona provoked the title celebrations at Cibeles. This year the capital's fertility goddess had to suffer the indignity of hosting the Culés party. Two weeks ago at that. Higuaín's goal in Pamplona at the weekend could have been the sweetening end to a bitterly poor season, but the Argentines well-taken goal was nothing more than a chimera. The Navarrans turned the game around and saved their Primera Liga skins. Madrid ended the season with their fifth consecutive defeat, conceding 17 goals on the way.
Sunday's game is old news, however. Florentino was presented as the new Real Madrid president this morning, 13 days ahead of schedule. The elections were set for the 14th of June, but with nobody able to muster the 57 million euros necessary, or organize a press conference that didn't involve racially abusing the President of the United States of America, Florentino breezed through the doors at the Bernabéu without a whisper of competition.
The Real Liga is decidedly undecided on what to make of all this. Let's not forget that the final scene of Florentino's previous presidency included Sergio Ramos complaining that Michel Salgado and company were busier seeing to their personal manicure than celebrating the defender's goal against Mallorca. A few months later, Florentino was booed, whistled and verbally abused when he went to vote in the club elections.
He is back, however, with a suitably gigantic and grandiose project, along with the necessary airy fairy discourse about values and caballerosidad. So far there have been no presentations of players or a coach, although Pellegrini is to be unveiled tomorrow on a two year deal. More on that tomorrow.
For now, Florentino has surrounded himself with people to tell him what to do. Valdano is basically in charge, Miguel Pardeza - from the quinta del buitre - is the sporting director, while Zidane is returning to the club as the 'President's advisor'. But Florentino isn't a man who likes being told what to do. He is also a man who is sure he is doing the right thing. He has often been proved right. He has also been proved wrong.
Whoever joins the club over the coming weeks - Kaká, Cesc, Villa, Silva, Xabi Alonso etc. - and whatever happens over the coming months - league and Champions League double, or utter failure - the club is starting a new phase in its history and is moving on. We'll drink to that.
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