For once the Premiership is not going to be the be-all and end-all of the weekend headlines. England’s record-breaking cricketers won’t take the glory. Neither will the Olympians in their final weekend of manic medalling in Athens. As for the Michael Schumacher-dominated Formula One Grand Prix in Belgium, forget it. All eyes will be focused on Parma, the capital of the Balearic Islands, come Sunday.
That’s when Real Madrid travel to Real Mallorca for the start of the Spanish season.
How can it be any other way? England captain David Beckham has to resurrect his career there; England’s top striker Michael Owen has to find a way past Raul and Ronaldo, and Jonathan Woodgate, arguably England’s best centre-half, must find a niche for himself among the galacticos.
It’s been a fascinating off-season and Madrid appear to have won the European battle for hype. Sure, Chelsea have spent the most — £200-million at a conservative estimate. But their first few games ended with scrappy wins.
But it’s Real president Florentino Perez who appears to know how to grab the headlines. First he threw out former South Africa and Manchester United coach Carlos Queiros after his trophyless season in charge, bringing in the tough, no-nonsense Jose Antonio Camacho for another spell in charge.
His first move? To give ‘Goldenballs†Beckham a real kick up the backside, saying: ‘What I want is that Beckham does his work like everybody else. I don’t go into what happens off the pitch, only training and matches. No one is untouchable — we have a squad here and they all play.†That was Beckham sorted.
Then, with a little help from Perez, he announced he wanted Arsenal’s Patrick Vieira. After weeks, no years, of wrangling, Vieira opted to stay at Arsenal, everyone started to breathe a sigh of relief and poof! Michael Owen disappeared off to Spain for £10-million.
Bloody strange that one. With his Liverpool now under exciting new boss Rafael Benitez, everyone thought Owen was staying put.
Camacho, with Ronaldo, Raul and Fernando Morientes already lined up in a squad of 23 for the new season, says: ‘Owen will ensure that there is competition for the place, and will generate concern within the squad in the expectation of playing. It could be that some day Raul and Ronaldo will not be picked, naturally.â€
Some day? Will he have to take a cushion to every game? Barring injury to the galacticos, I think so.