© JumpStory
Triumphant victory of last week's Real Madrid 10:2 against Rayo Vallecano players did not suppress rumors about the possible withdrawal of head coach Rafael Benitez from one of Europe's strongest clubs.
As the rumors grew stronger that the team's helm could soon be taken over by Zinedine Zidane, ESPN journalist Graham Hunter wrote a letter to the legendary French footballer explaining why he should reject all proposals from Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
Excerpts from Graham Hunter's letter to Zinedine Zidane:
Dear Zizou (Z.Zidane),
I am writing to you with a warning. I know we have only spoken during press conferences, but advice is best when it is precise, sincere, and firm. Sometimes it is best when such advice is given by an outsider, so that close people do not risk sharing it.
You must have heard the angry chants of the fans, even though Real Madrid beat Rayo Vallecano players with 10 goals on Sunday. The noise, whistling, mockery - a real storm of ridicule and contempt hit Madrid last week.
It all began with the match announcer reading out some of the team's star names - it stumbled on the big trio comprised of Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Karim Benzema.
It was Real Madrid's biggest victory since the 1960s, but the dissatisfaction of the fans was the loudest in the club's history. You have probably never experienced anything like this in your career. Whether it made you think, or your whole body felt the blows - it's up to you to decide. But it's time for someone to warn you: if Rafael Benitez is fired - whether quickly or at the end of the season - do not accept any job offers.
For God's sake, don't accept it. Don't accept it for the club where you have been working since 2001. Rejecting the offer can do a huge favor both to yourself and to the team which, it must be recognized, needs major changes, or maybe a revolution.
Zizou, look at the situation from this perspective: fifteen years have passed since F. Perez gave you what you called 'the happiest day of your life', when at the annual Champions League party he pushed the champagne glass towards you and asked, 'do you want to be a part of the club'? You answered 'Yes!' to that question, and it was certainly not the worst decision you ever made.
But times have changed. Most of those people who expressed dissatisfaction were a reflection of the team's general mood. The team needs changes. To start with, it would be enough to acknowledge that something is wrong with the club.
Jorge Valdano - a long-time servant of Florentino and the team's general director - barely had time to move out of Juventus when he told you: 'There is tension between the Bernabeu power and the players.' A powerful, revealing phrase.
There were other signs. Not long ago, security guards removed a poster from the stadium so that photographers and TV viewers wouldn't see it. In case you missed it, the poster read: 'Not ultra, not fierce - just tired of your dictatorship, Florentino.' Let's also remember the chants from the fans about the president's resignation, which the Barcelona team repeated every time they visited Madrid.
The time will come when F. Perez will purposefully fire Benitez, and will try to put you in his place. But you must understand that you will be used as a relief from the critical media and angry fans. You will be placed between him and the approaching giant wave.
All dictators do not want to listen to others' opinions. They only have one thought in their heads, that only they know what is needed and what is beneficial for the club. The masses, in this case the fans, must be drugged until the 'great man' makes decisions and earns money.
And you will be that drug for the people, Zizou. If there is no seismic shift in the club, the relationship between the management and the players will only worsen, and Emperor Perez will rule long and happily, using you.
For your own welfare, do not accept his offer to become the head strategist of Real Madrid.
15min.lt
