The Los Blancos tied 3-3 with Villarreal at Santiago Bernabeu in the last game of Zidane, the cult midfielder hardly restrained tears when he waved goodbye to the fans in the Spanish capital.
Many people wanted Zidane to continue playing at Madrid
Former Madrid Real Madrid right-back Cicinho said that club president Florentino Perez offered Zinedine Zidane a blank cheque to prevent him from resigning back in 2006, with the incident in the dressing room after the club’s final match of Zizou. The Los Blancos tied 3-3 with Villarreal at Santiago Bernabeu in the last game of Zidane, the cult midfielder hardly restrained tears when he waved goodbye to the fans in the Spanish capital. Zidane, who at that time was 34 years old, actually had one year to run for the contract, but before the 2006 World Cup, he decided to call time on his club career. Despite his age, many people wanted Zidane to continue at Madrid, including the club president, who offered him an exorbitant salary package to try to convince him to stay.
€6.5 million contract for him
“Zidane was very emotional in his farewell match,” Cicinho told reporters. “We were also like a legend that left the match.” Then Florentino came into the dressing room and saluted the footballers one by one. What happened next was unforgettable. “The highest salary of Real Madrid at that time was €6.5 million (£6 million/$7 million). Former Madrid striker Robinho jokingly said: “Mr. President, Zizou said that if you sign a two-year contract for €6, 5 million, he will not stop playing. “Everyone laughed, but Perez was serious and said:” If you want, I will bring you the paper now so you can sign it. “Cicinho explained that all eyes turned to their team-mate at this moment, adding: “Zizou thought about it for a second, looked at him and said, ‘No, no… I don’t want here anymore’.”
An Import from São Paolo in 2005, Cicinho spent only one season with Zidane, but it was more than enough to testify and absorb the unique talents of the Frenchman. “Zidane looked like an orchestra conductor,” said the Brazilian. “He always assisted us to position ourselves on the pitch. Before the games, he drove everyone. He was already a coach on the field. “Perez always said that Zizou played with a suit, that was his elegance on the field. He didn’t even break a sweat! It was beautiful to watch how he plays.”