During his participation in 'The Forum' event, held at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Portuguese ex-footballer Luis Figo argued that players with long careers deserve different treatment in terms of communication. His statements arose while discussing the situation of a Real Madrid captain after suffering a serious injury.
“"In the case of a player with a serious injury, I don't know their physical condition, but I am very grateful to people who give their whole life for a club, regardless of whether you are useful or not. When you have to leave, it's easy to do it well and to do it badly, and often it's done badly for no reason."
The reflection from the 2000 Ballon d'Or winner came after the Real Madrid player participated as a substitute in a recent match at the Santiago Bernabéu. After the game, the team's coach was asked about the player's situation, to which he replied that he prioritized what was best for his team, considering all his players as having options to participate in important competitions.
Figo insisted that the management of the full-back should be different, drawing on his own experience at the end of his career. He emphasized that a simple dialogue could resolve many situations, as at a certain age, players possess the necessary maturity to understand the circumstances.
“"A player with a certain seniority should be treated differently in terms of communication. I was treated like a child when I was close to retiring at Inter. At that age, you already have the maturity to understand everything; a simple dialogue can fix it."
Furthermore, the ex-footballer addressed the globalization of football, warning that this process could jeopardize the identity of some clubs. He mentioned that, while it is not negative for a team to seek global recognition, the idea that football is merely entertainment can cause it to lose its essence. He advocated for the importance of maintaining team identity while growing internationally to preserve domestic competitions.
