adminKIEV. – On the eve of the Champions League final, we uncover the less well-known stories behind the players who will line up here tonight.
Real Madrid
Keylor Navas – A film of Navas’ life came out recently. “Man of Faith”, it’s called. He has needed it too – always seems to be on the verge of replacement, but still there. Was to be the makeweight in deal to sign David De Gea from Manchester United in August 2015, but the deal collapsed because the documents were not submitted to Fifa before the Spanish transfer deadline.
Dani Carvajal – Born in Leganés, a Madrid suburb and was the small, floppy-haired blond kid who laid the first stone at Real Madrid’s training ground with Alfredo Di Stefano. He returned much later a bearded and ultra-competitive right-back.
Sergio Ramos – “More tattoos per square centimetre than anywhere else,” he said when he posed with David Beckham last week. Each tells a story and he’s accumulated loads of them: the devoted Catholic has a tattoo of Mary covering the top half of his left arm. Also likes bullfighting and horses. Owns a stud farm in Andalusia.
Marcelo – Lived with Roberto Carlos when he first arrived in Madrid with the impossible task of replacing the man with the thunderous thighs – and, in the end, did so. The best left-back in the world, Roberto Carlos says. Diego Maradona says he’s the third best player in La Liga, after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Luka Modric – Modric is the name Granada midfielder Javi Márquez gave his son. Not Luka, Modric. “My wife liked the name; it’s just a coincidence,” he protested, before adding: “Although Modric is a good person and a good player.”
Brings what José Mourinho considers “that artistic sense” to the game.
Casemiro – Don’t let that cherubic, slightly chubby, gentle smile fool you. And he might be a defensive midfielder, but don’t let him shoot either. “Has changed the face of Madrid,” according to Atéltico’s coach, Diego Simeone. Marcelo is even more effusive: “He saved my life. I might play until I’m 45 with this guy by my side.”
Toni Kroos – Says he only ever got nervous on his wedding day, and a big fan of Robbie Williams; really, really big.
His father, Roland, works as youth coach for Hansa Rostock. Scored twice for Germany in that 7-1 humbling of Brazil at the last World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo – Once said that he was going to carry on playing until he was 40. It seemed silly then; it doesn’t now. Has the world’s biggest Facebook fan base with 103 million followers and an airport named after him and his own football museum.
Gareth Bale – Admits he isn’t that good at watching football – he’d rather put on the golf – but is a bit good at playing it. Better than some in Spain seem prepared to admit. Attended the same Cardiff high school as future Wales rugby union captain Sam Warburton.
Karim Benzema – Appears in a video for “Walabok” by the French rap artiste Booba. The video clip features images of drugs, bags full of cash and men in hoodies pointing guns towards the camera. Says he doesn’t like the Marseillaise because it’s a “call to war”.
Liverpool
Loris Karius – Bayern Munich fan from Biberach an der Riss grew up idolising Oliver Kahn and was inspired by his three-save shootout performance against Valencia in 2001, but has never been involved in a penalty showdown at senior level.
“When you are standing on the line, there is a voice inside you that will tell you which corner he might put it,” Karius says.
Virgil van Dijk – World’s most expensive defender was born in Breda to a Dutch father and Surinamese mother.
Worked as a kitchen hand at the Oncle Jean restaurant in Breda when he was 16 and still sends them his signed football jerseys. Wants to be Liverpool’s regular free-kick taker.
Andy Robertson – Released at 15 by Celtic – the team he supported as a boy – for being too small and worked in the ticket office at Hampden Park before turning professional with Dundee United. Relegated with Hull last season, now a firm favourite with Jürgen Klopp and the Kop. Donated a signed shirt of Roberto Firmino to a young Liverpool fan who had given his pocket money to a local food bank.
Jordan Henderson – The main, if unheralded, influence on a united dressing room made his professional debut with Sunderland in 2008 and spent time on loan at Coventry. Turned down a move to Fulham at the start of Brendan Rodgers’ reign as Liverpool manager. Rodgers wanted to use him as part-exchange in a deal for Clint Dempsey.
James Milner – Relishes his Boring James Milner tag and known as Milly the Machine by Jürgen Klopp for the ground he covers. Enjoys his status as a social media sensation, and his reaction to the ball going in off his face against Roma – “Anyone got any tips for getting a Champions League logo off a face?” – caused a Twitter frenzy.
Mohamed Salah – So popular in Egypt that he was spared compulsory national service in 2014 – following an intervention by the prime minister and the national team head coach – and received 1 million votes in a presidential election in which he played no part. Lives in Cheshire with wife Magi and daughter Makka.
Chose to wear the No 74 shirt at Fiorentina in tribute to the 74 fans killed in Port Said disaster.
Roberto Firmino – Was discovered by a dentist, Marcellus Portella, who saw him playing for local side Clube de Regatas Brasil and promptly became his agent.
Was deported back to Brazil as a 17-year-old from Madrid airport in a row with Spanish immigration when booked to take a connecting flight to Marseille. Loves to score a “no look” goal.
Sadio Mané – Travelled 500 miles from his home village in Senegal to Dakar for a successful trial at the Génération Foot academy.
A devout Muslim, whose father forbade him from playing football. Nicknamed Ronaldinho as a boy and now a “Lion of Teranga”, as Senegal internationals are know. First thing he did after signing for Liverpool was telephone his mother. – The Guardian.
Online Reporter