The Real Deal Quotes

“Whatever he may have done or had yet to achieve, on the night of 26 November 2003 David Beckham confirmed a special place for himself among the myths and legends of Real Madrid's history. In the 35th minute of Real Madrid's Championship League group match against Olympique Marseille, Beckham took one of his trademark free-kicks, bending it over the wall and into the net. It was his first for the Spanish team in a competitive European game, and the club's six hundredth goal in the European Cup - the one hundredth was scored by Alfredo Di Stefano.”
― Burns , Jimmy, The Real Deal: A History of Real Madrid

“The facts as I have tried to relate them suggest that FC Barcelona not only allowed themselves to be completely outmanoeuvred, but also in the end fell victim to their pride in voluntarily giving up Di Stefano rather than accept a deal that would have him playing alternate seasons for Barça and Real Madrid. Undoubtedly though, the whole saga helped fuel the collective sense of victimization that Catalan nationalists have always felt in their relations with Spain's central government and which has helped politicise FC Barcelona's rivalry with Real Madrid.”
― Burns , Jimmy, The Real Deal: A History of Real Madrid