Makelele: 'When Madrid call, you don't say no'
KUALA LUMPUR: Claude Makelele knows better than most people when it comes to playing in the Clasico.
The former France midfielder wore the famed white of Real Madrid from 2000 to 2003 during the original "Galactico" era.
Makelele, who had also played for Celta Vigo, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, believes that football is still a matter of heart and intelligence beyond the noise and glamour.
"You need to put your love inside. Keep going, working hard. With time, you will always be successful," said Makelele during an interview in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday evening.
As Real Madrid battle Barcelona in tonight's Clasico, Makelele reflects on the great rivalry between these two famous Spanish clubs.
"Madrid, for me, are the best team in the world… It's always spectacular," he said.
Makelele was at the heart of the original Galacticos, alongside Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Roberto Carlos, Raul, and Fernando Hierro.
Looking back, he sees that Los Blancos side as unrepeatable.
"At that time, yes, Madrid, Galacticos… I'm talking about a lot of genius players. I think you will not see this for a long, long, long time," he said.
Makelele said what truly made that Madrid team tick was not just talent, but togetherness. "They never gave up, they always wanted to win.
"The institution for Real Madrid was so strong. First of all, it's Real Madrid. They don't care about the players' names. They care about the group, the club."
Makelele believes that this culture still defines Real Madrid today, and any player would dream of being part of it.
"When Real Madrid call you, you can't say no. You need to go there, because it's the best team in the world," said Makelele who now focuses on educating young players, instilling values beyond flashy tricks and social media followers.
For tonight's Clasico, Makelele is eager to watch a new generation of "genius players" take the stage, from Real's Vinicius Jr., Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo to Barcelona's Pedri and Lamine Yamal.
While Makelele acknowledgd that football has changed, with the rise of social media, branding and business, he said the game's essence remains. He still sees beauty in every era, even if the players wear different names on the back of their shirts.
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