If anything characterizes Real Madrid, it is their unwavering desire for silverware, which was evident even as they celebrated their 36th La Liga title victory on Sunday.
Los Blancos players partied with fans outside the city’s Cibeles palace, but the Champions League final remained the main emphasis.
The record is 14 times The European champions will face Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on June 1, and some players have expressed their desire to return to celebrate after the final.
“Thank you for being here to celebrate this day… I hope we see each other again in June,” said veteran midfielder Luka Modric, a five-time Champions League winner with Real.
Madrid won the title back from rivals Barcelona last Saturday with four games to spare, but they postponed the celebrations to focus on defeating Bayern Munich in midweek to advance to the Champions League final.
Madrid has lost only one match in La Liga this season, against rivals Atletico Madrid in September, and is now scoring more goals and conceding fewer than any other team in the division.
They won both Clasicos against Barcelona and twice defeated their main rivals for much of the season, Catalan upstarts Girona.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti was a major presence in the celebrations, carrying a cigar and donning sunglasses as he did at Madrid’s previous parade in 2022.
The day began early with RFEF president Pedro Rocha carrying the league trophy to Madrid’s Valdebebas training field at 0730 GMT, where captain Nacho Fernandez lifted it for the first but surely not the last time on the day.
“Today is the day to enjoy it, when it’s something so deserved, something so big as winning the league, it’s the day to go to Cibeles,” said Nacho.
There were other stops on the way for Madrid’s jubilant players, first heading to the Madrid regional government’s headquarters, presenting the trophy to President Isabel Diaz Ayuso.
“This team has overcome a lot of adversity, with a lot of injuries,” said Madrid chief Florentino Perez, referring to Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao and David Alaba’s long-term absences in particular.
“This squad rebelled against the situation, this club badge achieves everything that seems impossible — the attitude (you need) in the face of life.
“I want to thank all of the players that now form part of the history of the club — they have won it all and are still hungry.”
Of course, Perez was keen to highlight the team’s next target. “We will leave our soul out there to come back with the 15th,” he added.
‘At Wembley, we will win’
Ayuso congratulated Madrid on “years of glory” and said the club was a “joy” for the city and Spain itself, before receiving a shirt signed by the players and a replica of the trophy.
“At Wembley, we will win!” declared England international Jude Bellingham, the club’s top scorer this season, who has taken Spain by storm since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund last summer.
Players addressed masses of fans from a balcony, with fans chanting responses. “Vinicius, Ballon d’Or,” cried the supporters, who also called for out-of-contract stars Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Nacho Fernandez to stay.
Striker Joselu, who netted twice in the last minutes of the Champions League semi-final against Bayern to send Madrid through, received special recognition from the fans.
The team presented the trophy at the Madrid town hall, to Mayor Jose Luis Martinez Almeida — an Atletico Madrid supporter.
The last stop was Plaza Cibeles, where thousands of fans were waiting as Madrid arrived on an open-top bus.
“I am very happy to share this with the fans, who will give us the energy to win the Champions League,” said forward Vinicius Junior.
That is what Madrid fans and players are already dreaming of, although Ancelotti had another, more urgent ambition.
“I have a dream,” said the adored Italian coach. “I want to dance with Eduardo Camavinga.”
The French midfielder obliged and soon the squad followed them in a conga line as the music played on under the Madrid sun.