MADRID, 23 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
This Thursday, Atlético de Madrid paid tribute to the Portuguese legend Paulo Jorge dos Santos Futre in the Cívitas Metropolitano auditorium, on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the forward’s debut with the rojiblanco club, who presented him with a commemorative plaque in honor of his trajectory.
“You have dreams, but you can never think of something as big as what I’m experiencing, a tribute so big that it doesn’t enter your head. I have no words to thank everyone, my teammates, the club, the colchoneros. It is also a moment to thank the press, all this would not be possible without their constructive criticism. Thank you all very much, I have no words for all this, I can’t say more”, said the former player during the tribute.
The Portuguese star -image of the membership card this season-, was supported by representatives of the club and of different institutions, relatives, as well as some members of the current squad such as Koke or Reinildo, as well as athletic legends, members of the board and a group of partners who were born on the same day and year as the historic attacker.
“He is a player who has a rojiblanco heart, one of our best ambassadors and an idol for the entire Atlético family. Paulo is a true man, a person who has always defended Atlético de Madrid with passion. He fought and gave himself up for the Atlético de Madrid shirt. his loves in 215 games. He made us vibrate and enjoy like few others”, assured the club’s president, Enrique Cerezo.
Koke Resurrección and Fernando Torres also had words of appreciation for the Portuguese legend. “Since I was little, people always talked about you. You are the idol of all the athletics and that is something spectacular. I am left with a very nice anecdote: before winning the last league I received a message from you giving encouragement to the whole team and that helped us, gave us strength. You are a legend and an idol for all Atléticos. We all thank you”, said the captain of the first team.
For his part, the current Juvenil A coach appealed to his career and defined him as a player. “My grandfather was the first who told me about Paulo. Atlético is a brave, dynamic club that wants to do things, that feels passion, and that was Paulo as a player. That’s why they loved him and continue to love him like one more, pointed.
“Apart from everything he has been as a player, I think that over the years he has continued to be linked to Atlético de Madrid because it has turned out that way, he is one more Atlético. We Atléticos feel that Futre is one of ours and that he will never fail us. fail. For me he is a very special person because he was the one who called me to give me the opportunity to start training with the first team when he was sports director and he changed my life”, he added.
Lastly, the CEO, Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, also wanted to send his affection towards the rojiblanca legend. “Simply remembering that 35 years together is a lifetime. For us as a family you are not just another person, you were not just another player. My father’s arrival at Atlético along with you managed to awaken a club that was going through some very bad times. As much for his personality as for your character, for his courage and passion as for yours, somehow you recovered the illusion”, indicated.
“You have been and are for Atlético de Madrid a player, a legend, a friend and what we want is for you to continue being so for many more years. Continue to be as you are, a very authentic person, with all my heart, very honest, sincere and, simply, we love you a lot,” he concluded.
Futre was also accompanied in this tribute by the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez Almeida; the Portuguese ambassador, João Mira Gomes; the Minister of Health of the Community of Madrid, Enrique Ruiz Escudero; and the president of the Madrid Football Federation, Francisco Díez.