Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has said the club will always remember legendary striker Alfredo di Stafano, who passed away earlier this year.
In his Christmas message to Madridistas, Perez looked back on what has happened at the club in the past 12 months. And while the undoubted high was winning the Champions League in May – the club’s 10th European Cup – he said the year had its lows too, not least the passing of the great man.
“The last game Alfredo Di Stéfano watched was the match of the year: winning our tenth European Cup. For ‘Madridistas’ this was an enormous satisfaction and something they had all been hungering after for years. To see how this was celebrated throughout the world just goes to show how much it really meant,” he said.
And he added: “Di Stéfano changed the course of history for Real Madrid and will live on forever in the memory of the fans. He showed us the way. And he will continue to do so.”
Perez also commented that while the players and staff are delighted to have achieved what they have this year – the Champions League, Copa del Rey, European Super Cup and Club World Cup – there is no room for complacency and they are already looking forward to the challenges ahead.
“Here at Real Madrid there’s no time for complacency and everyone is already talking about ‘La Undécima’, which is what we are working towards.”
