Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), double Formula One world champion and one of the great figures in Spanish sports history, will again be one of the great attractions next weekend during the Spanish Grand Prixthe tenth of the World Cup, which will be held at the Montmeló circuit (Barcelona).
Within the framework of an event at Aramco – main sponsor of the Silverstone team -, Alonso commented on aspects of other sports that he likes, such as football, tennis and cycling.
Question: Let’s talk about other sports that you like too. For example, football. You’ll be happy, won’t you? Madrid won the ‘Champions’ and Oviedo were there, one step away from promotion to the First Division. That tells me?
Answer: Yes (laughs). I tell you I am very happy. They are my two teams. Real Madrid, being in the ‘Champions’ is always there, bringing out that ‘extra’ and always giving us joy. And then Real Oviedo, there we are, a week away from being promoted to the First Division.
I’m a bit superstitious about Oviedo, because the last time I went to the field for a game was the year they were relegated to the Second Division. And since then, it has been on my mind; and although I follow the games with attention and detail; and on Sunday I was watching it on the television as ‘ultra’, I would only be back on the field when we were in the First Division. Because of superstition. I don’t want to jinx them, now that they are doing well. And I wish you all the luck in the world.
Q: The European Football Championship has just started. How do you see Spain? Which teams do you see as favorites?
A: In the Euro Cup it’s hard to pick a favorite. I think we will have to wait until the rounds progress. But I think Spain is fine. This is a young, united team, with a lot of energy. And I think we will be one of the favorites.
Q: Let’s move on to tennis. Carlos Alcaraz won his third Grand Slam title at Roland Garros; Now he will go for Wimbledon and play twice in the Paris Olympic Games with the legendary Rafael Nadal. What do these two Spanish super-champions suggest to you? One, that his entire career was ahead of him; and the other points to the end of his very successful career.
A: They are two legends of a sport as complex and high-profile, too, as tennis. Being lucky to have these two ‘monsters’ at first level is a source of pride for all Spanish athletes.
When we’re in any city in the world and we turn on the TV, and Rafa or Alcaraz are playing, you have to say to the person next to you, ‘look, he’s also Spanish.’ And he dominates the game; or dominating the tournament.
So it’s an honor, yes, to have them.
Q: You love cycling; and he does it often. What do you think will happen in the Tour de France?
A: I usually follow the Tour, completely. I think it’s again between (Slovenian Tadej) Pogacar and (Danish Jonas) Vingegaard. I hope he is one hundred percent; because the struggles they have given us in recent years are epic and it would be a shame to lose them.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
