Marcelo and Teresa Perales, two legends of world sports, present on the second day of White Week

Marcelo was one of the key figures on the second day of White Week for the students of the Real Madrid Graduate School - European University. Real Madrid's Director of Institutional Relations, Emilio Butragueño, moderated the event, in which the Brazilian legend, who won 25 titles (including 5 Champions League trophies) in 546 matches with our team, said: “From the moment I arrived, I was taught the greatness of this club. I always tried to play with my style, which is very joyful and close to the people. In the end, being in the best team in the world makes victories more significant, and that allows me to reach more people.”

“If you ask any child, they all want to wear the Real Madrid jersey. I always knew the energy here was different. I was lucky to spend many years here and learned to understand that this is not just a team, but much more. The magnitude of this club is enormous, and to be captain, you have to be an example. It is a privilege to be part of the history of this crest.”

His career
“Real Madrid is very big, and for that, it must always have the best players. When you arrive as a very young player, you encounter players with a lot of experience, and you learn from them. Thanks to that, I was able to win five Champions League titles, and these kinds of achievements can only happen here. Furthermore, in this club, you always aspire to win more. Regarding staying motivated to keep winning, I don’t know what Teresa Perales, who is here, would say, but that love for victory makes you want to repeat it. You win one, and you want two and three. That same feeling drives you to want to win again and again.”

The feeling of playing for Real Madrid
“At all times, you feel pressure, but I liked that feeling during matches because it’s the fuel we have to play football. Anyway, success comes when you work as a team. Unity is important because, without it, individual success doesn’t come. I also feel proud that every time I return to the Bernabéu, they treat me incredibly, and that’s because we formed a family on and off the field.”

His best memory
“I have many memories with this club. If I had to choose one, it would be the last day, when we held the farewell press conference. At that moment, I looked back and was very happy for everything I had achieved with Real Madrid. I always tried to help on the field, and for me, that is the greatest satisfaction.”

Teresa Perales: “Success is momentary, and I always think about the next challenge”
The winner of 28 Paralympic medals and the 2021 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, Teresa Perales, participated in the event, sharing her experience: “I am very happy to have had such a long career, and I carry that pride with me every day. I really enjoy continuing to win, and I take things lightly. Success is momentary, and when I achieve something, I always think about the next challenge. That mindset is always present for me.”

Mentality and resilience
“I’m already thinking about the days left until the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028. I would like to surpass Michael Phelps. Logically, I’m 50 years old, and it’s difficult for the body to respond, but the mind plays a big role. The reality is that we all have the ability to recover, and although not-so-great things happened to me in my life in the past, all I do is train every day and feel proud of what I’m doing. That is a very important ingredient to keep moving forward.”

Ana Rossell: “Real Madrid is greatly contributing to the growth of women's football”
The sporting director of Real Madrid’s women’s team, Ana Rossell, also participated in the event with her talk Women's Football: The Strength to Keep Growing, where she emphasized the importance of developing and consolidating this sport. Rossell said: “This project is only six years old, but from the beginning, the club’s commitment has been total. When we started, everyone felt it was about time, and in the end, it was very easy. All departments have helped us. The most beautiful part of all this is that we still have much history to make.”

The growth of women's football
“Real Madrid is greatly contributing to the growth of women's football. For the best club in the world to step in is very positive. For the players, being here is a privilege, and they have to enjoy it to do their part. In my position as sporting director, the best legacy I can leave is having been able, alongside the club, to bring this project to life so that all the girls in the world have that dream of playing here.”

The Adidas partnership with Real Madrid
The second day of White Week also featured the participation of Juan Contreras, Global Marketing Director of Adidas Real Madrid BU, and Álvaro Vitores, Sponsorship Activation Director of Real Madrid, with their talk Adidas: How We Build a Strategic Partnership Together. Contreras explained: “For Adidas, Real Madrid is the biggest team in the world. The word ‘greatness’ is key as it connects the club with its community and conveys the aura that defines it. The sponsorship we have with Real Madrid is very important to us, and the numbers alongside this club are always huge.”

“Real Madrid is a traditional brand, focused on performance. The team wins the Fifteenth and already aims for the Sixteenth, perfectly describing the values of this club. It’s unparalleled, but even so, we always try to help each other to innovate.”

For his part, Álvaro Vitores, Sponsorship Activation Director of Real Madrid, said: “Having Adidas as a partner helps us do very big things. The video for this year’s kit campaign still gives me goosebumps. In this case, the new stadium helps us achieve something incredible. With Adidas, not only is the status of our club elevated, but also that of our players who wear this brand.”

 

Disclaimer: Translation generated by artificial intelligence. It may contain inaccuracies.