“I am very fond of Real Madrid“, comments He Bingjiao upon entering the Relevo newsroom and seeing women’s table football in tribute to the world champions who ‘presides’ over the facilities. With those six words begins one of the best memories of the Chinese badminton player during her visit to Madrid to receive recognition in the first edition of the X Change Relay for the values shown in her tribute to Carolina Marín in the last Olympic Games.
Together with Relevo, he visits the Tour of the new Santiago Bernabéu and it doesn’t take him long to see the reason for his love for the white team: every photo, screen print, lens or video related to Cristiano Ronaldo was worthy of a photograph. “I’ve followed Madrid since they signed him,” he confirms while looking for any goal for his idol. “I loved his personality and his continuous effort to want to be the best“Although she is improving her English, she still does not have it 100% under control and decides to point out in amazement to the shelf with the Portuguese’s Golden Balls. “And also, now they are signing Mbappé, who I also like.”
If you have to choose a second main protagonist of this visit to the Bernabéu it is the hypogeumthe new system that cares for and hides the grass to be treated underground with LED lights. “Wow!” she says very expressively while not taking her eyes off a video that explains the entire operation.. It doesn’t lose any detail of how it works. Even a few minutes later and in a small children’s play area, she is once again impressed with a machine that simulates grass collection and that the little ones can execute by turning a handle.
The nicest image of the visit is discover the famous chair with which David Alaba celebrated the comeback of the Madrid team against Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 of the 2021-22 Champions League. Signed by the Austrian defender, it is for the enjoyment of the fans and to be able to remember the celebration. And it didn’t take long for him to do it with a big smile for a few hours in Spain that he will never forget.
The Olympic runner-up in Paris He hallucinates with every piece of information that the translator translates from the countless messages printed on the walls. of the guided tour. “The best team in history”, “The youth team that contributes the most players to the five major leagues”, “The basketball team is also the team with the most European titles” or slogans recognized among Real Madrid fans such as “The Madrid shirt is It can stain with mud, sweat and even blood, but never with shame. “It’s amazing“he repeats.
“Can I go with Mbappé’s shirt to collect the award?”
Olympic badminton runner-up
Finally, arriving at the store is the last crazy thing. “I want everything“, he warns while grabbing a Kylian Mbappé shirt, some goalkeeper gloves, a keychain, a basketball and a few other things until he can barely hold everything in his hands. He wants gifts for the whole family and goes over them, over and over again time, that no one is left without their Real Madrid souvenir. After checking out, this person who writes these lines is very scared: “I know it’s a gala and you have to be well dressed, but… could I go with the t-shirt Mbappé to collect the award?”
Going down the last steps to the street, he is clear about what he wants to do on his visit to Madrid: “The next time I come to Spain, I will come to a game“. Although there was one last adventure: the return trip from the ‘expedition’ to the Relevo facilities. The taxi driver recognizes her, confirms with the rest of the passengers that she is He and goes crazy between video calls to family and friends at every traffic light in red due to the fear of the situation on the part of He and the others. “Do you know who I have in the car?” he shouts to his son over the hands-free phone. In the midst of the madness and upon learning that he is a Real Madrid fan, he points out that “Real Madrid should pay tribute to her or take her to Valdebebas so she can meet all the players because our country is very grateful for what she did with Carolina…and on top of that now I find out that he is a Real Madrid fan!”
A rush of emotions fulfilling his dream of visiting the Bernabéu that was one more step in a day very similar to a roller coaster because, just a few minutes later, he was reunited with Carolina Marín three months after a gesture that went around the world.
