“Real Madrid took a toll on me” — Nacho Fernandez

Not many get to say they spent 24-years at the club of all clubs, Real Madrid, but when you are Nacho Fernandez, 24-years at the Spanish capital is just a period in your life.

After 24 years of loyalty and triumph at Real Madrid, Nacho Fernandez has finally opened up about his emotional decision to part ways with the club he called home since the age of 10. The veteran defender, who lifted six Champions League trophies and four La Liga titles, revealed that leaving Los Blancos was not a spur-of-the-moment choice but one that came after months of deep reflection.

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In a heartfelt interview, Nacho shared how the relentless pressure at one of the world’s biggest football clubs eventually wore him down mentally, despite living through what he described as “the best of Real Madrid.”

“It’s not something you just wake up one day and decide. Real Madrid demands everything from you every single day, and after years of proving myself against new signings, it takes its toll,” he admitted.

“It wasn’t a quick decision. It came day by day, week by week. And then, eventually, there comes a moment when you say, ‘that’s enough.’ Nacho added.

While many see the glitz and glamour of playing for one of the world’s biggest clubs, Nacho Fernandez shed light on the unseen side of the game—the mental and emotional endurance required to survive at the top level.

“It’s hard to be there day after day, fighting, proving yourself. The demands never stop,” he continued. “In the end, these demands also wear you down mentally. And although my motivation has always been big, I’m a human being, and at some point, you realize it’s time.”

At 34, after an incredible career spanning 364 appearances, 16 goals, and 10 assists, Nacho’s words give a rare glimpse into the mental and emotional challenges of being a long-term player at an elite club like Real Madrid, where success is both celebrated and exhausting.