Pedja Mijatovic: “He was not a president, he was a friend”

How did you find out about the death of Lorenzo Sanz?

Instantly because he had been on the phone for days talking to his son Fernando. Unfortunately we knew that this outcome was inevitable because of this damn disease. I am very sad.

I notice him really touched.

It is that Lorenzo for me was not a president, he was my friend. And also leave in such a cruel way …

What does the family tell you?

Well, it's terrible that they couldn't even say goodbye to him, even see him, be able to give him a hug … Nothing. You go crazy just thinking about it.

Twenty years ago, their paths separated. First you went to Fiorentina and then he left the presidency when Florentino arrived after the 2000 elections.

It is that curiously my relationship with him has gone even more since he left the presidency. We ate from time to time and it is true that he had some health problems, but not enough to leave us. It was all the fault of the coronavirus. In those times that we saw each other we have talked a lot about soccer, because he was very understanding and loved to talk about what was his great passion apart from his family. I was wondering about new players that were appearing, we were commenting on how our Madrid was doing and, in fact, we have been to eat several times in recent times. And he had a dream that unfortunately he has not been able to fulfill.

Which one?

I was excited about the possibility of organizing a meal in Madrid bringing together all the players who were in that squad of the Seventh. Not only those who signed, as was my case or that of Suker, Seedorf or Roberto Carlos. I wanted to bring together all of us who starred in that conquest. Also to the doctors, the communication people… Everyone. I wanted to gather the spirit of the Seventh in a restaurant, but with all of us who lived through that magical night in Amsterdam. I encouraged him because it seemed like a great idea. Don't forget that Lorenzo has been the father of that generation that has gone down in Madrid's history. It can be said that Lorenzo is the father of the Seventh.

When did you meet Lorenzo Sanz?

In the spring of 1996 he sent one of his vice presidents, Ignacio Silva, to my home in Valencia. He convinced me in five minutes because what I wanted since I came to Spain is to be able to play in the most successful club in the world. Ignacio handed me the phone. It was Lorenzo. He said to me: “Pedja, welcome to Real Madrid. I know that with you we are going to win important titles.” The best thing was how he handled my signing.

What do you mean?

Despite the fact that Madrid broke all the records of the time by paying almost 1,500 million old pesetas for me, they never put pressure on me with my price. Upside down. He talked to me about challenges, about winning the Seventh after 32 years, about winning the Intercontinental after 38. He never reminded me of what it had cost me even when I had a bad streak before the goal. He was close, hearty. Cast…

Cast?

Well, he had a physical presence that gave respect. Tall, strong, always in his impeccable suit. If you did not know him, he imposed his own. But then he would come up to you, talk to him and after a while you would be laughing. He was horny, funny, human and he never spoke in code: “I am the president”. Yesterday I spoke to Davor and Clarence (Seedorf) and we agreed that a friend, not a president, had left us. It was a phenomenon, really. I liked him very much.

Did you have a direct line with him?

Me and all my colleagues. When we had to negotiate the premiums, I brought together the captains and the two or three players with the most weight in the team and we always reached an agreement without bad feelings and in tune. He put himself in the player's skin. He went to training sessions in the old Sports City very often and if he saw you low in morale he would approach you, you would tell him about your problem and he would give you advice as a father or a friend, not as a president.

Do you remember any case?

Of course, days before the Clásico with Barcelona, ​​in December 1996, my son Andrea had to have an emergency operation for hydrocephalus, the disease he had since he was born and which he finally took from me. Imagine how affected I was. He put the whole club at my disposal, helped me with the care of the child with a family from Valencia and that week he went out of his way to respect me whatever decision I made. Lorenzo, when I had to help you for something personal, moved mountains. I decided to play, I scored the 2-0 goal and that day I discovered forever the greatness of my teammates, the president and this club.

It can be said that he was ahead of his time when he reopened the era of great signings in Madrid.

You are right. He had a technical secretariat and people in the club who know about this, but his intuition with the great players led him to both Champions. He was convinced that Davor (for Suker), Seedorf, Roberto Carlos and I could give Madrid the jump to reign in Europe again. And in winter he brought Panucci and then Karembeu. He knew football and smelled the one who could be a player for Madrid at the highest level. When Lorenzo wanted something, he got it. And that Madrid was not doing well financially at that time. But I knew it was actually an investment. Titles make everything profitable. Lorenzo has undoubtedly been one of the great presidents of the club's history even if he was only five years old.

But not everything was rosy. You had a confrontation with Toshack and decided to leave Madrid for Fiorentina. So it is not in the photo of the Eighth in Paris. Why did Lorenzo not avoid his departure?

Because he was legal with me and respected my decision. I asked him to. With Toshack my relationship had no return and as I was young and stubborn I did not know how to measure the error of my determination to leave. Lorenzo was sorry and insisted that I could not leave Madrid, that I was an icon for the fans, that the coach would pass and that I was part of the club's history. But I refused and appealed to their friendship to help me out. And he did. The mistake was mine.

Let's get a nice episode back. Yesterday the AS cover was the image of Lorenzo lifted up by Seedorf and his son Fernando in Amsterdam kissing the Champions League. You have always been the Hero of the Seventh. What part do you attribute to the deceased president?

Please, of course you are very guilty. He was the driving force of the Seventh, having the vision, two years before, of bringing five or six very important players and promoting a generational change with courage and determination. And with far fewer financial resources than there are in modern times. That AS photo shouldn't surprise you. The pineapple we made in Amsterdam included him because for us he was one more, we saw him as if he were a wardrobe partner.

Her greatest bond with Lorenzo came from her son Fernando. An image that has been recorded forever is his celebration of the goal against Juventus running to the bench to hug Fernando. What comes from that special bond?

We have always been neighbors and since I signed for Madrid we have connected. I came with the great signing vitola of the club and he was a kid from the quarry, but being the president's son that brought him a lot of unfair criticism. I was older than him and I helped him not to get hurt with it because he is a kid with a very noble heart and he did not deserve to suffer that. Before the final he told me that he was going to score the winning goal and it was not easy to bet on me at the time. I hadn't gotten one in the entire competition! Our friendship has continued, with our two families seeing each other often. We also agree on professional issues. For me it is like a brother. He is a special person and I know what he has suffered for not being able to say goodbye to his father. Something must be done.

What do you suggest?

That we make Lorenzo's unfulfilled dream come true. I promise to help the first one. When this nightmare of the coronavirus passes, it is necessary to promote a great tribute to Lorenzo Sanz on the part of all those who agree with him in his time at the club and that Real Madrid can fire him as he deserves. Like what it was. A great president