Real Madrid Captain Nacho Fernandez To Leave After 23 Years
Real Madrid have announced that their captain Nacho Fernandez will leave the club this summer.
The announcement comes just three weeks after Nacho captained Real Madrid to their 15th Champions League title with victory over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.
The 34-year-old joined Real Madrid at the age of 10, progressed through the club's youth ranks and made 364 appearances for the first team.
His list of 26 honours at the club includes six Champions League trophies, four La Liga titles and two Copa del Reys.
A statement read: "Real Madrid C. F. announces that our captain Nacho has taken the decision to end his career as a Real Madrid player.
"Real Madrid would like to thank and express our appreciation to Nacho, one of the club's biggest legends."
President Florentino Perez added: "Since he arrived at our youth academy as a child, Nacho has been an example to everyone and has earned the affection, recognition and admiration of everyone at Real Madrid. Real Madrid is and always will be his home."
“I arrived as a 10-year-old and I've grown as a person and as a player,” Nacho said in a letter to fans on social media.
“For almost 25 years I've been coming every day to practice in the same place, learning the values of Madrid and giving my life and fighting for this shield. I've given everything I had.”
Nacho is currently with the Spain squad at EURO 2024.
