Luis Figo

When I left Barcelona, staying in Spain was an important factor in my decision to join Madrid. I did not have to change country or learn a new language, adopt a different sort of lifestyle, and so on.

In football, day in day out, you always have to show your worth.

As a professional football player, I have known perfectly well from the day I started playing that every day I have to fight for my place.

A player cannot become a world champion overnight. To become a champion, a player has to sacrifice a lot and to devote much of his time practising and training.

A free life cannot acquire many possessions, because this is not easy to do without servility to mobs or monarchs.

I don't really go out that much, if I'm honest. I'm quite a recluse. If I had my way, I'd probably be at home most of the time with a book and a cup of tea or glass of wine.