Manchester City thrashed Real Madrid 4-0 in the rematch of the Champions League semifinals giving a football lecture signed by their coach, the Spanish Pep Guardiola. A while later, a sequence of photos goes viral on the networks: Mauricio Macri appears in the privacy of the celebration, chats with Pep and group photo making a four for the number of goals. What was the former Argentine president doing at the Etihad Stadium?
Far from the internal politics that is unleashed in Argentina in the face of a new presidential election, at least geographically, Macri was in London for personal reasons when he received the call from his friend from Khaldoon Al Mubarak, the president of the English club.
The proposal was impossible to refuse, at least in football terms: he asked him if he wanted to watch the City match against the Spanish team, perhaps the most auspicious duel that could give this Champions League that will be defined on Saturday, June 10 in Turkey. And Macri accepted.
Pep Guardiola gestures to Khaldoon Al Mubarak and Mauricio Macri, minutes after Manchester City's triumph. Photo: Twitter.
In addition to being the president of Manchester "celestial" since September 2008, when the Abu Dhabi United Group took the reins of the institution, Al Mubarak is a businessman educated in the United States dedicated especially to mining, managing companies with a presence in the Middle East and South America.
His friendship with the former Argentine president became visible to everyone during the World Cup in Qatar, when together they shared a box the debut of Messi's National Team against Saudi Arabia. Macri, who holds a position at FIFA, also met with Gianni Infantino, president of the institution.
Mauricio Macri with the president of Manchester City.
But returning to the Champions League and City's triumph against Madrid, Macri's embrace with Guardiola reminds us of the first meeting between the two, ten years ago.
The then Head of Government of Buenos Aires received Pep in Buenos Aires, where he arrived to give a series of talks and was distinguished as a guest of honor after appearing at the Usina del Arte before 120 students of the city.
Guardiola and Macri, in May 2013. Photo: Gustavo Ortiz.
"Thank you Pep Guardiola for the unique opportunity to meet you for more than 100 boys from public schools in the City," Mauricio tweeted, grateful for the gesture of the Spaniard, always complimentary towards Argentine football and its people.
In addition to Macri, Guardiola and Mubarak, in the photo of the VIP of the Etihad Stadium there are six other people: Pere Guardiola (in white shirt, brother of Pep), Manel Estiarte (in black sweater, friend of Pep and former Olympic water polo champion), Joan Patsy (in front of Pep, representative of City in South America), Alberto Galassi (in light blue tie, leader of City) and Abdulla Khouri (with black glasses, another club leader).
Mauricio Macri witnessed the semifinal between Manchester City and Real Madrid for the Champions League.
As it transpired, Macri also went through the dressing room and greeted some of the players who had just gotten into the Champions League final. The weather was festive, there were family and friends. The English team feels that it won a final and the appointment against Inter will be a separate game, which can not escape from the hands.
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