Real Madrid’s 2003 trip to Hong Kong recalled as Fernando Morientes returns – and meets goalkeeper who kept him scoreless
- Having played in the city alongside Beckham, Zidane and Figo, he visits again as La Liga ambassador – and has reunion with ex-Hong Kong goalkeeper Fan Chun-yip
- The former Real, Liverpool and Spain star says players moving to Saudi Arabia ‘is not unhealthy’ at the end of their careers
Hong Kong holds a special place in the heart of former Real Madrid star Fernando Morientes, who made one of his first preseason trips with the Spanish giants to the city in 2003.
The striker was part of Real’s squad of “galacticos” who visited the city as it was recovering from the Sars pandemic.
Back in town in his capacity as an ambassador for La Liga Football Schools, the 47-year-old said he had “special memories” of the trip, which saw the star-studded Real side take on an Invitational XI in a friendly.
“The 2003 trip was one of the first preseasons that we did abroad and therefore I always have some special memories,” Morientes told the Post via a translator.
Real brought the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, David Beckham, Luis Figo and Raul to play in front of 40,000 at Hong Kong Stadium.
Morientes came on in the second half against a joint side of Hong Kong and China players, as was ex-Hong Kong goalkeeper Fan Chun-yip, and the pair had the chance to reunite on Sunday at the training centre in Tseung Kwan O.
“I was a second-half substitute in the match, same as Morientes, and he tried to score against me twice, but I saved both of them,” Fan said. “I was very happy to stop him from scoring goals because he was a really famous striker at that time.”
Morientes scored 72 goals during his time with Real, before he joined Liverpool and then returned to Spain with Valencia.
Other strikers have come and gone from Real since then, not least Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, who scored more than 200 times for the club but is now swapping La Liga for the riches of Al Ittihad as he joins the latter Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia.
While some have criticised the move, Morientes said the pair had paid their dues and should be allowed to play where they wanted.
“They have already given their best years to La Liga and now they want to try some new experience,” Morientes said. “Any player that wants to be at their best has to play in the top leagues, but they are now at the end of their professional careers. It’s amazing what these players are getting paid in Saudi Arabia, but this is not unhealthy.”
Jude Bellingham and perhaps soon Kylian Mbappe are set to become the next Madrid heroes, but Morientes said adapting to the local culture and demanding fans would be vital.
“Some good players were a success and became part of the history of Madrid, but some could not,” he said.
“I am not a fortune-teller, but if they do not adapt to the club culture, to the language and the life in Madrid, it will be difficult.”
