“Rafael moved from sport to society”

There is nothing better influencers than an ideal athlete. And there is no better role model athlete than Rafael Nadal. That’s why his uncle Toni (Mallorca, 1961), who was one of those who knew Manacorí, became one of the voices to listen to, especially in the days before the retirement of the best Spanish athlete of all. time.

So, Nadal’s former coach was kind enough to just attend Mundo Deportivo during his role as ‘Honorary Godfather’ of the ‘Moving through life’ campaign, which raises awareness of the importance of playing sports to prostate patients cancer.

There are only a few days left before Rafa Nadal retires, how is he doing, how do you see him?

“I have been watching him train for the last few days and for me he is training at a very high level. Now we will see why the competition is not the same as training. We have to wait when he (Rafa) gets there and what what David Ferrer sees fit to do.”

Have you ever wondered what that last point would look like? When I put the racket down and said ‘this far’…

“I can’t imagine that last point. Now that you say it, it will be an exciting moment when you know that it is the last ball that he would hit professionally. It has been many years in the world of competition and now the time for the end” .

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Are you going to Malaga?

“No, I’m not going there because I have work.”

What percentage of importance does mentality have in Rafa’s career?

“I understand that creating habits builds character and that’s a phrase I repeated many times to him. It’s very difficult to control the ball if you don’t control your mood. I believe that in life you have to learn to control your self to control what’s around, I gave importance to the character because I understand that what we face in the future will be difficult and the best way to face it is a well-developed character.

Does the mind become a sport within the sport itself? Today the role of the sports psychologist is important…

“I don’t believe that character is worked on with psychologists. Character is worked on with natural means. Obviously psychologists can contradict me, obviously.

And how does it work?

The German writer Goethe said that “talent is built in the calm, character is built in the storm.” To build a strong character you need actions, with words it is difficult. If a psychologist has the facts, perfect.”

In other interviews, he pointed out that Rafa “surpassed the sport” precisely because of his mentality…

“Well, I explained it, yes. There are athletes who transcend their sport and athletes who transcend society through their way of acting. In Rafael’s case, he transcended sport and society through his way of action in victory and in defeat where he conveyed some positive messages to the people.

So is he in the same place as Michael Jordan, Ayrton Senna or Muhammad Ali, for example?

“I don’t know. I think Rafael left a good image with him and a way of understanding sport and delivering and applying values ​​and I think it’s good for society. To what degree? Yeah, with Ayrton Senna’s or Cassius Clay, I don’t really know.”

Changing the third and getting to know your culé fans, what do you think of Barça this season?

“Extraordinary. He played very well. Flick gave a new look to the team. They play faster, that’s the first thing. And the atmosphere, seen from the outside, seems as good to me and to the players as if they did when last year… “Like Raphina or Lewandowski himself this year they are great players again, which is what they never stopped being. I think the level is very good and that we can aspire to everything.”

And with the boys from La Masía. Lamine Yamal, Gavi, Fermín…

“Lamine Yamal will clearly be one of the best in the world. We must continue in this line. All this shows that very good work has been done for many years. We have had great players in different another occasion and now we have them again”.