In Madrid, you can spend a whole week looking for a person wearing the jersey of Madrid's "Real" team with the name Nacho on the back. If you saw a child walking to the "Santiago Bernabeu" stadium with this player's jersey, they would surprise more than one long-time fan of the club, writes ESPN journalist Rob Trainas. Recently celebrating his 28th birthday, the defender has become one of Zinedine Zidane's key weapons. Before the Frenchman became the head coach of the "white" team, Nacho had never played three consecutive matches in "La Liga" matches. Last season, he did it three times. Breaking through to the main team was not easy for the defender - under Jose Mourinho, the Spaniard had sporadic chances and also played for the second team. When Carlo Ancelotti arrived at Real, Nacho was officially invited to the main team, but it was not until Rafael Benitez's appearance in Madrid that the footballer became a more important figure. Last season was a real test for the versatile defender: 24 appearances in the starting lineup in the league and three in the UEFA Champions League. This season has been even more successful for the defender - last year Nacho played a total of 3197 minutes, while this season he has already spent 2347 minutes on the field, including five starts in the Champions League and 13 in "La Liga" matches. Several words could describe the 17-year career of this player at Madrid's "Real" club - adaptable, confidence-building, uncomplaining, and above all, a club graduate. Questions about Nacho's future at the club have been raised many times, and after rumors of interest from "Roma" in January 2017, the Spaniard said, "I don't always want to play just 15 matches per season. I want more numbers."
Regardless of Zinedine Zidane's current situation, belief in Nacho compensates for the quality and financial position ratio. Nacho, who is the player with the most appearances in the Real team this season, receives one of the lowest salaries in the club - 70 thousand euros per week. This season, the Spaniard has already reached his productivity record in the club - four goals, and in a match against La Coruna's "Deportivo," the defender had one of the best performances this season - two goals and an incredible long-range goal. Nacho is not a perfect defender - he makes small mistakes, but which of the four central defenders at Real doesn't? Zidane was convinced by this player's incredible versatility. Starting his career as a center-back as a child, Nacho can now play in any defensive position - from reliable play in the middle to strong performances as a full-back.
It is incredible that, on his 28th birthday in mid-January, the Spaniard has never had problems with physical fitness and injuries - he continuously helps his team throughout his career, even though he suffered from diabetes in childhood and has had to follow a strict lifestyle ever since. In the Spanish media, Nacho is described as a Swiss Army knife used at Madrid's "Real" club - a knife that is always with you, but you only realize its true importance when you really need it. The footballer's patience and ability to cope with limited playing time are particularly admirable. His two goals against "Deportivo" once again showed that he has excellent striker instincts. After a goal scored last season in the King's Cup against "Cultural Leonesa," Zinedine Zidane called him even better than his goal in the 2002 Champions League final against Bayer Leverkusen.
For true "Real" fans who know the club's traditions, Nacho is the only true "Real" team "carterano" (academy graduate) among the current main team players, having spent his entire career only in the "white" team without any loan agreements. This season, the Spaniard could frequently be seen wearing the captain's armband - he, along with Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Karim Benzema, make up the captain's group. Nacho, a lifelong fan of the Real club, shows how hard work and dedication, overcoming certain health problems, can lead to the summit of the "Santiago Bernabeu" fortress. The desire to be a regular player in the main team has only increased Nacho's chances of ending his career representing one team. Nacho can be an example to other academy graduates. When “Real” fans in March 2016 showed a banner after winning a match against Celta Vigo with a score of 7-1 following a lost Madrid derby saying "Sweat for these jerseys," Nacho was one of the last players for whom this message was intended. Coincidentally, Nacho has been wearing the jersey with a number 6 for several seasons, which in the past was worn by club legends such as Fernando Hierro, Manolo Sanchis, and Vicente Del Bosque.
Nacho will not have statues erected in Madrid, his name will not be loudly chanted worldwide, he will probably not belong to the hierarchy that controls the "Santiago Bernabeu." When someone tries to find out about him one day, they will probably find out that he works as a coach in the Real academy and trains 12-year-old children. This player of one club is one of the greatest examples for academy graduates seeking the greatest inspiration in today's football.
