Rafael Nadal watches Liverpool take on his beloved Real Madrid in the Champions League – after hugging Pep Guardiola on Man City visit as tennis legend enjoys first week of retirement
- Nadal made the most of his new free time by watching Real Madrid face Liverpool
- The tennis icon said goodbye to his illustrious career last week in Malaga
- Liverpool vs Real Madrid – Champions League LIVE: Follow Mail Sport’s live blog
Rafael Nadal swapped Center Court for a seat in the Anfield Stand on Wednesday evening as he cheered on Real Madrid against Liverpool in the Champions League.
The tennis legend, who hung up his racket at last week’s Davis Cup in Malaga, is a keen Madrid supporter and was pictured sitting in his seat during the match.
It was a busy day for Rafa, who also visited the City Football Academy, shared a hug with Pep Guardiola and met several stars.
The Spanish icon, 38, also met Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish and Manuel Akanji during his visit to the Premier League champions’ training centre.
Rafa is a big football fan and showed promise as a child before focusing entirely on tennis.
His uncle, Miguel Angel Nadal, won five LaLiga titles and a European Cup with Barcelona and earned 62 caps for Spain.
Rafael Nadal took his place at Anfield on Wednesday to cheer on Real Madrid against Liverpool
The tennis legend also visited the City Football Academy, where he hugged Pep Guardiola
Rafa was all smiles as he exchanged words with Erling Haaland, who couldn’t help but beam
The recently retired tennis legend shared a photo with City and England winger Jack Grealish
There was also time for a photo with defender Manuel Akanji at the City Football Academy
Nadal didn’t give fans the iconic headband treatment during this football tour, but he did wrap up with a thick scarf for the cold night in Liverpool.
It’s been just over a week since the King of Clay broke down in tears after his last match in front of his home crowd in the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup.
During a stellar career, he won 22 Grand Slams, a total surpassed only by Novak Djokovic’s 24 among men.
‘The titles, numbers, they are there. People probably know that. The way I would like to be remembered is as a good person from a small village in Mallorca,” Nadal said in his farewell speech.
Ahead of his final tournament, he emphasized that he is at peace with his decision to step away from the sport that made him a global phenomenon.
“It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time,” he said.
‘I could hold on for another year, but why? To say goodbye at every tournament? I don’t have the ego to need that.
“For me, there’s no point in continuing knowing that I don’t have the real opportunity to be competitive in the way I like to be competitive because my body can’t give me the opportunity to do that often. .’
