Porto helped me quite a bit but I worked really hard, with lots of enthusiasm and humility and with my mind always focused on returning to Real Madrid. It was a fantastic year on a personal level.
As a player, you’d rather be up against Barcelona, Real Madrid, or Bayern. Big clubs. Great atmosphere. Real excitement.
I love Real Madrid and their fans.
Real Madrid has a lot of high expectations, not only in terms of results but also with nice football and a lot of goals.
There is definitely a difference when you are fighting for a title against clubs like United or Real Madrid or Barcelona. They are so used to winning, it means that you have to have a different frame of mind when you challenge them because that’s the only way to overcome them.
I never played in Spain. To play for Real Madrid or Barcelona would be great.
I had dreamt of playing for Arsenal and Real Madrid, and those dreams came true. Maybe I can dream of winning the Ballon d’Or, and that can come true as well.
When I went to Real Madrid, I was only 18 or 19 years old. It was my first year as a professional footballer. I was very young.
I don’t have resentment towards Barca, only good memories, but if Real Madrid called me I would think about that offer in the same way I would if it was a Barca one.
I have good memories of Real Madrid. Professionally, it was a difficult period, but my experience there was very good in all senses, as I grew a lot, learned many things, and lived with great champions.
I like a lot to watch Real Madrid and Barcelona, which are my favourite teams in La Liga.
It’s normal if Real Madrid call you, you think about it.
At the derbies between Real Madrid and Barcelona there is a great atmosphere.
I support Real Madrid. I’m a big fan of Cristiano Ronaldo.
I had great relationships with all the four coaches I played under at Real Madrid. They all helped me improve, but if I had to pick the best, I would pick Ancelotti.
It’s not easy to beat Real Madrid convincingly at home.
Being bold in the shirt of Real Madrid is not easy.
That’s one of the core qualities at Real Madrid – you’ve got to be able to win all the time.
Real Madrid? I don’t have any nostalgia or bitterness.
Having Neymar at Real Madrid would be a huge pleasure. Madrid have to do everything to sign the best players in the world and his past at Barcelona would not be a problem.
Pepe has had an impeccable career at Real Madrid and in football and whatever he does will be looked on well by us.
I have always seen myself as a Real Madrid goalkeeper and have never doubted my ability.
I want to keep growing, keep moving towards being one of the best in the world, and there is no better place to grow than Real Madrid.
At Real Madrid, I did heading drills with Cristiano Ronaldo. You see him go up for headers, that spring and power – he is a real beast. At Juventus, I saw Fernando Llorente, how he finds space and directs his headers.
If you want to reach the Champions League final, you have to play the big teams like Real Madrid.
At 21, Real Madrid or Barcelona would have been more difficult for me. If I play well enough at Chelsea, I could win my place in the starting team, and my priority is to play.
Zidane is a Real Madrid legend. He teaches us things in every training session – even just by playing with us.
Real Madrid have to be at their best in every single training session and every single game.
Real Madrid. It is the best team in the world.
Real Madrid without Cristiano Ronaldo are, of course, not what they were with Ronaldo, but they’re still a very good team.
