The greatest football player we never saw retired today
A story of what could have been.
There is an alternate universe in which the football world stopped today, normal life ceased to be important, because news filtered through that the greatest player to ever grace the game has hung up his boots.
One of the most re-told stories in sport is that of disciplinarian tennis coach, Toni Nadal, demanding his nephew — eight year old Rafael — switch from his natural right handed play to become a lefty in order to benefit from the angles of the court it opened up and to utilise a “natural” backhand, subsequently drilling him daily until it became natural.
22 Grand Slam titles and an Olympic Gold Medal later it seems Toni might have been on to something.
But the what if, the untold story, is that of Rafael Nadal’s other uncle, Miguel.
Miguel Angel Nadal played for Barcelona under Johan Cruijff, winning five La Liga titles and the 1992 European Cup, earning 62 caps for Spain along the way. He famously once took Rafael into the home changing rooms at the Camp Nou so he could get a photo with his idol, Ronaldo.
What if it had been Uncle Miguel to take young Rafael under his wing, and not Uncle Toni?
The most likely scenario? Messi would have been a sidekick. Iniesta would have been a substitute. Barcelona and Real Madrid would have ten Champions League titles a piece. And today we would be saying farewell to the undisputed GOAT.
Enjoy your retirement, Rafael Nadal. The greatest football player we never saw.
Oh yeah, by the way, here is a link to a video of Rafael Nadal smashing FIVE goals past then Spain and Real Madrid goalkeeper, Iker Casillas.