NEWS | 08/07/2014
As soon as the news broke the messages of condolence came flooding in for Alfredo Di Stéfano.Messages from the first team
Ancelotti: “Today a legend has left us, but the footballing lessons he thought and his life will stay with us forever. Rest in peace, Don Alfredo”. Casillas: “Rest in peace Don Alfredo, you are the greatest. A Real Madrid legend, you will always be with us. I will always remember you maestro”.
Cristiano Ronaldo: “It is a very sad day. For me, for all madridistas and for the world of football. Don Alfredo leaves us, but not his spirit. His memory will last forever in our hearts. Legends never die". Sergio Ramos: "I won't forget a single moment I've spent with the legend of world football. My deepest condolences to his family".
Bale: “I am sad because another great has left us. Don Alfredo was an inspiration for me, his spirit and his memory will always be with us”. Nacho: “Rest in peace Don Alfredo, a legend and shining example for the whole world of football. I send all my support to his loved ones”. Morata: “Rest in peace Don Alfredo, a legend and big part of our club's history”. Carvajal: “You will always be a legend for Real Madrid. All the best to his family and friends”.
Arbeloa: "You did the greatest things for us. You will always be with us. Rest in peace Don Alfredo". Isco: "Rest in peace Don Alfredo. Without a doubt you were one of the all time greatest". Xabi Alonso: "Rest in peace Alfredo Di Stéfano. The Blond Arrow leaves us". Jesé: "A Real Madrid legend has left us". Marcelo: "The legend of Real Madrid began with you. You were our inspiration and will continue to be forever”. Modric: "I am proud to have known the beating heart of Real Madrid".
Casemiro: “A Real Madrid icon and a great person has left us. The Blond Arrow will always be with us. Rest in peace. Jesús: "Our most emblematic player has left us, but his memory will live on forever”. Varane: “Rest in peace Di Stéfano”. Coentrão: “Alfredo Di Stéfano will always be immortal. His legend will never be forgotten”. Benzema: “Goodbye for now Don Alfredo and thanks for everything”. Di María: “Today, at 88 years of age, one of the best players of all time has left us. Today a legend leaves us. Rest in peace”.
Real Madrid veterans
Zidane: “Today Alfredo Di Stéfano has left us, football is in mourning for this great loss and I will never forget that he was always so loving and caring towards me. My condolences to his family. Goodbye for now Don Alfredo”. Raúl: "It is a sad day for Real Madrid fans and football in general. Rest in peace Don Alfredo Di Stéfano. He was a role model and a shining example for everyone at Real Madrid. All my love for him and his family. It was a privilege to have spent each moment of football with him. Thank you Don Alfredo".
Beckham: "The death of Alfredo Di Stéfano is very sad. All my love and support goes out to his family and the club". Míchel Salgado: "One of the greatest in history has left us: Don Alfredo di Stéfano. My condolences to his family and every Real Madrid fan".
Amancio: “He left a glorious mark on Real Madrid. He fought, battled and never gave up on a single game. He was a great fighter, with a lot of intelligence”. Míchel: “The greatest of all is now eternal. Goodbye for now Don Alfredo”. Santamaría: “He was the most complete player I've ever seen. He changed and revolutionised football and did so much for Real Madrid as well as for the sport”. Guti: "I send all my best wishes to the family of the best of all time, Don Alfredo Di Stéfano. Thank you for your love and dedication to Real Madrid. Rest in peace friend".
Cannavaro: “Rest in peace Don Alfredo Di Stéfano”. Owen: “Deeply saddened to hear that Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stéfano has died today”. Figo: “A friend leaves us. Rest in peace. You will always be eternal. My condolences to the family”.
Roberto Carlos: “During my 12 years with Real Madrid he always showed me how to be a footballer and how to make history. He always treated me with love. It is a sad day for me because he was a marvellous, charismatic person, who always laughed and was always an icon for Real Madrid. Rest in peace maestro”. Van Nistelrooy: "Rest in peace Alfredo Di Stéfano, you will never be forgotten".
Pelé: "I am very sad to hear about the death of the great Alfredo Di Stéfano".
The basketball roster
Pablo Laso: “Today is a sad day for every Real Madrid fan. Alfredo, rest in peace. We will never forget you”. Mirotic: “Farewell Don Alfredo, a White legend until the end of time. Rest in peace”. Llull: “It is a sad day. The greatest has left us. A Madrid legend and idol”. Rudy: “Di Stéfano has gone to heaven but his memory will live on in the hearts of Real Madrid fans”.
Slaughter: “My thoughts are with his family and all of Real Madrid. Goodbye to the best player of all time and the club's Honorary President". Dani Díez: “Don Alfredo Di Stéfano, a once in a lifetime player and person, a Real Madrid icon forever”. Darden: “I am sorry to hear the news of the great footballer Don Alfredo Di Stéfano. Rest in peace and my condolences to his family and all Real Madrid fans".
The world of football
FIFA: “Di Stéfano: goodbye to a legend”. Blatter: "He was my favourite player and the most complete player I have ever seen. A legend has left us, may he rest in peace". UEFA: “Football mourns the loss of Alfredo Di Stéfano”. Platini: "I am deeply saddened to hear that Alfredo Di Stéfano, one of football's true greats, has passed away. He won the hearts of everyone with his brilliance as part of the legendary Real Madrid team that left an indelible mark on European football by winning five European Cups back-to-back".
Higuaín: “My thoughts are with the family of Di Stéfano, a great has left us. Thanks you for everything”. Granero: “He was a breath of fresh air. But what a breath of fresh air! Our crest, which you showered in so much glory, is in mourning for you today. Rest in peace”. Callejón: “Rest in peace maestro. A Real Madrid legend, you will always be with us”. Messi: “Today one of football's all time greats has left us. His legend will live on with us”.
Mourinho: "It was with immense sadness I learned of the death of Alfredo Di Stéfano, a wonderful man I had the pleasure to know during my time at Madrid. I send my thoughts to his family and friends, but this is also a very sad day for football and football fans, as we have lost a very special person".
Ángel Villar: "The greatest has left us, the greatest of all time". Argentine Football Association (AFA): “Alfredo Di Stéfano, a global icon, has died. Goodbye forever maestro". Vicente del Bosque: “I am so sorry for the loss of Di Stéfano”. Liga de Fútbol Profesional: “The LFP mourns the passing of Don Alfredo Di Stéfano”.
Josep María Bartomeu, president of Barcelona: "With Di Stéfano's farewell we lose one of the football greats. My condolences to his family and Real Madrid, their members and fans". Atlético de Madrid: "We join the mourning of the death of Alfredo Di Stéfano, the Honorary President of Real Madrid and one of the great legends in the history of football". Manchester United: "We are saddened to hear of the death of Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stéfano. Manchester United's thoughts are with the family and the club".
Cruyff: “Di Stéfano was my idol and thanks to him, Madrid turned into him. He was an icon all over the world. He was the difference and his football will live out through the ages”. Beckenbauer: “Alfredo Di Stéfano was not only a Real Madrid legend, but also one of the best players of all time”. Sir Alex Ferguson: “We are saddened to hear about the death of Di Stéfano. All of Manchester United's thoughts are with the family and the club”.
River Plate: "River Plate remembers Alfredo Di Stéfano, a glorious player for the club and the Honorary President of Real Madrid". Millonarios FC: "The Greatest of All Time has left us, that Argentine player who came here from River Plate to treat us to golden afternoons and evenings wearing our jersey. Don Alfredo, the Blond Arrow, has left us, but his legend, his magic, his stature will never be forgotten. Every time Millonarios take to the pitch his memory will live on".
Simeone: “Don Alfredo, one of the true greats of world football, has left us. Farewell maestro, that you may always have a football up there”. Valencia: "We would like to offer our most sincere condolences to the family, relatives and friends of Don Alfredo". Espanyol: "We feel his family's pain during these difficult moments”. The other clubs that also represent Spanish football also offered their condolences for the passing away of Di Stéfano.
Pelé: "I am very sad to hear about the death of the great Alfredo Di Stéfano". Bobby Charlton: "Alfredo was one of the best players I have ever seen and an extremely intelligent footballer".
Public personalities
Mariano Rajoy: “He was the best player to ever grace a football pitch, a legend. I admired his tactical sense, his physical strength, his technical ability and his total football". Rafa Nadal: "Today is a sad day for football because a true legend has left us. A warm and heart-felt hug to his family". Miguel Cardenal, State secretary for Sports: “Don Alfredo was the best”. Alejandro Blanco, the president of the COE: “A legend who was the beating heart of Real Madrid has left us. It is very hard to explain what Alfredo represented for Real Madrid and world football”.