Bertín Osborne, a Real Madrid fan, speaks bluntly about his view of the white team: he mercilessly criticizes the Brazilian and also praises Florentino Pérez without limit.
Many aspects of Bertín Osborne are known (businessman, singer, television presenter), but others less so: he could have been, for example, a very notable tennis professional, but life led him down other paths. "I was a great tennis player. Juan Antonio Samaranch, then president of the IOC, came to see me when I was twelve years old, and Manolo Santana always said that I could have been an important champion in this country."
He admits it in the interview that journalist María José Hostalrich conducted in 'ABC', a conversation in which Osborne speaks without too many reservations about his relationship with the world of sports, his love for Real Madrid, and his ideal football market operations. If they let him, he admits, Vinicius would already be transferred. "And with a bow," he adds.
The Madridista comes from far back. "I played with the Real Madrid veterans for years. I've played with Di Stefano, Puskas, Marquitos, Touriño, Rubiñán, Valdano... also with Pedro Ruíz and Carlos Goyanes, who played very well, by the way."
On the other hand, Osborne is emphatic about Vinicius. "I don't see him at Madrid. I have nothing against him, but I would sell him tomorrow. Well, better today, with a bow. For a fortune, that's for sure. He doesn't fit the mentality of Real Madrid. He makes himself unpopular wherever he goes, he protests everything, he's a troublemaker, I think even his teammates can't stand him. He gives Madrid a bad image it doesn't deserve. No player, no matter how good, is above the club. Florentino has shown that many times. I don't know why Vinícius has to be forgiven more than others."
Osborne is also critical of Real Madrid's youth policy. "It is true that in Madrid they give less option to the youth players [than in Barcelona]."
"I would like to see more academy players in the first team, without a doubt. In that regard, I can admit to feeling a bit envious of Barcelona. Because they do it and it doesn't cost them any trouble," he adds.
Regarding Florentino Pérez, Bertín Osborne shows himself to be in awe. "He is the best president in Madrid's history. I didn't know Bernabéu. My father told me he was amazing. But Florentino is like from another planet. I've traveled with them to Europe, and wherever you go, for the locals, Mr. Pérez is like the Holy Spirit. It's something otherworldly, the respect he has outside of Spain. And it's justified.