This week’s excerpts from El Macca – hope you’re not tired of the book yet!

– [Steve] ” was known as ‘Míster golazos,’ and even had his own song, ‘McManaman Mix,’ a rap-style dance made by a radio station to commemorate the Oviedo golazo… Lyrics, as follows: ‘MC MAN A MAN / MC MAN A MAN / MC MAN A MAN / He shoots and it’s saved / GOLAZO! / What a ball, what a pass / PELIGRO!’ and so on via phrases that mention Chinese food (he was known to like it) and concern that he might be hungry (because of his skinny frame).”

– “When the Bernabéu is full, it’s frightening.  We’re almost unbeatable with the crowd behind us.”

– [during celebrations for Madrid’s 28th Liga title in 2001]:  “around one corner, the bus lurched and Santi Solari fell backwards over the railing on the top deck, grabbing on to the nearest thing – me – and we nearly landed head first on the kerb.  Somehow we were caught by others just as we’d reached that classic high-jumper’s pose going over the bar…”

– [at training]:  “Roberto Carlos… throws his kit on and is out in two minutes.  Iván Helguera comes running in on the stroke of eleven… whereas Zidane is never later than ten fifteen.  Santi Solari is always in at exactly ten forty.”

– “I like the fact [Zidane]’s the best player on the planet, and yet so modest.  He’s so quiet.  On the bus, he sits up in the front by himself, out of the way.  He’ll read, or he’ll have his earphones on, or he’ll be watching his DVD.  He always wears those socks they give you on planes to stop deep-vein thrombosis… After games he’ll always have them on, his feet up, drinking litres of water… If we were ever given a few days off… Zizou would go to a health spa… He has an iron metabolism disorder and has to drink five litres of water a day… Iván Helguera had spent some time in Italy and could speak a bit of Italian.  He’s always loud and friendly anyway, and would integrate Zizou in his craziness.”