Real Madrid gathered all their players (and one coach) to wish all the fans a happy holiday season, express their desires for the new year and provide some (unoriginal) sound bites.  Iker, Sergio and Mou had the dubious honor privilege of doing it with Florentino Pérez on the day they had the captains lunch.

Iker: the union that exists inside the locker room is the key to achieving success.  The most important thing is the union and the good group that we have.  I hope that all the injured players on the team recover quickly and that the míster will be able to count on the entire squad.

Iker will spend his vacation with his family.

Sergio Ramos: I imagine a magical moment for 2011… I see us winning La Décima and the entire team surrounding the Cup in the Bernabéu, with the fans enjoying the moment.  I hope to start the year on a good foot and with the aspiration to continue working and growing.

Sergio will also send a letter to the Three Kings from Sevilla [Your majesties, please bring me some D&G accessories, a new LV suitcase and a pair of bright yellow pants, the only color missing from my collection…], where he will spend his vacation with his family.

Mou: the team has shown that it won’t have problems with fighting and achieving challenges.  We’re still alive in three competitions and we want to continue like that until the end.  Why shouldn’t we enter 2011 with the hope of doing so?  I would like to help Madrid not only win once, but to start a cycle of victories.

Mou will spend the vacation with his family in New York.

(I’m sorry, but these pictures are so cheesy, and I even tried to choose the least cheesy ones.  They just scream “forced” and “completely posed.”  And whose idea was it to have Sergio sit in the baby chair?  View the rest here.)

Zidane: for 2011, I ask that we win titles.  And for health and happiness.

Iker’s Christmas wishes:

Sergio’s Christmas wishes

Meanwhile, the rest of the team did their part before the team lunch on Monday.  They managed to break up the A team, but the pairings of Cris-Marcelo, Pipita-Garay, the Frenchmen and the Germans proved to be too strong to destruct.  “Success” and “happy” and their variations were the keywords of the session.  Where’s the video?

Cristiano: I want to wish all madridistas a happy year, and I hope that we have a lot of success in 2011.

Marcelo: I hope 2011 is better than 2010.

Watch out for: Marcelo laughing when Cris is talking!

Kaká: I wish you all a lot of happiness and happy holidays.

Albiol: I hope you have a great holiday with your families and that you will enjoy a 2011 full of successes.

Higuaín: Happy holidays to everyone and happy new year.  I hope 2011 will be better than 2010 for madridistas.

Garay: I wish you all have a great holiday season with your families.  Happy new year.

Watch out for: Pipita’s rounder than usual face and his big smile when Garay is talking.

Lass & Benzema: Merry Christmas to all the madridistas in the world and we wish you health.

Watch out for:  Lass’ inability to pronounce “madridista” and don’t watch out for Karim’s thumbs-up.

(Video not on youtube yet).

Xabi: We hope that you all have a great holiday season.  Our best wishes for everything to go well.

Granero: I would like 2011 to start the same way that 2010 ended, and hope that it’s a much more productive year for everyone.

Great job, putting the two intellectuals together!  Watch out for:  Xabi’s moving eyes.

Arbeloa: Happy new year.

Canales: I hope 2011 will be full of successes and that you can enjoy them all with your families.

How cute is Sergio’s little face when he smiles?  Watch out for:  Canales scratching and Arbeloa’s booming voice.

Adán & Mateos: We wish a happy holiday season to all madridistas and hope that the new year brings success.  Enjoy the time with your families.

Watch out for:  Adán’s lack of neck.

Khedira & Özil (expressed in “perfect Spanish”): Merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Watch out for:  Khedira’s arm pump of success.

Carvalho: Merry Christmas to everyone.  I hope 2011 brings you health.

Pedro León: Happy holidays to all madridistas.  We hope 2011 will be a year full of successes.

What happened to the rest of the players?

Meanwhile, the various teams that make up the cantera also wished everyone “happy holidays” in this adorable video.  You can see how the team spirit and unity prevail down to the very last team in Valdebebas.  I especially love the rendition of “Campanas de Belén” at the end, and how all the teammates of the Real Madrid C singers rushed in to tease them.

Here are some of the faces you might recognize from the video.

And a very Merry Christmas / happy holidays from me too!  Thank you so much for reading and commenting on my blog!