Former Real Madrid defender, Nacho Fernandez has explained his decision to leave Santiago Bernabeu after 24 years at the club.
The Spaniard said his decision to leave the club he joined at the age of 10, was not taken all of a sudden.
Nacho played 364 games across competitions for Los Blancos and contributed in 16 goals and 10 assists.
The Spain International won six UEFA Champions League, four La Liga and five FIFA Club World Cup, among others.
The Euro 2024 winner said (as per Relevo via Madrid Xtra), “Decision to leave? It’s not something you wake up one day and say ‘enough’. At least in my case.
“It takes many months, many days … And even though I had the luck of living one of the best periods at Real Madrid, the life of a footballer, although it may seem easy on the outside, also has hard moments.
“Real Madrid is a club that demands you day by day, that demands you to be well, to win every game.
“… I’ve been at the club since I was 10 years old, and I left at 34. And I repeat, I’m lucky because I’ve had the chance to experience the best of Real Madrid.
“But it’s hard to be there day after day, to have to prove yourself, to have to fight, to have new signings.
“In the end, these demands also wear you down mentally. And although my motivation has always been big,
“I’m a human being and I think it’s a decision that has been coming day by day, week after week, until a moment comes when you say ‘that’s it, that’s it’.”
