Real Madrid legend Guti has opened up on his career, personal choices, and views on modern football in a wide-ranging appearance on the End of Month Podcast by Imagin.
The former midfielder spoke candidly about his deep connection to Real Madrid, revealing he once turned down a lucrative offer from AC Milan in order to stay at the club he loved.
“Milan offered me more than I was earning at Real Madrid. We went to play for their centenary. They called me to come… I wasn’t motivated by money, I was motivated by what
I felt. I preferred to play 30 years at Real Madrid than 90 at another club. That was my wish. I don’t think many people have had the opportunity to play with Zidane, Figo, Ronaldo, Cristiano, Benzema, Roberto Carlos, Kaká. That’s something I’ll always cherish.”
Guti also shared his thoughts on the current La Liga title race and Spain’s chances in Europe, expressing uncertainty about both.
“There’s no favorite in La Liga. They’re two great teams going through some tough times. They’re struggling to get on a really good run. I hope Real Madrid wins it, but they’re a difficult opponent. Unfortunately, I don’t see Spain winning the Champions League this year. I see it as a long shot… It’ll go to France, Germany, or England.”
Reflecting on his playing days, Guti pushed back against common narratives about player lifestyles, particularly the idea that his generation frequently partied.
“We played every three days. We didn’t go out that much. It’s a myth. When the team is doing well, nobody goes out, everything’s fine. When things are going badly, suddenly everyone’s out. It’s just criticizing for the sake of criticizing. The biggest party animal I’ve ever known? I think it was me. I’m just saying that because I don’t want to name someone else. When I had to do it, I did it. It’s a phase. I haven’t gone out in 7 or 8 years. It was a phase. Play, go out, train. It’s your phase. Use your head. Imagine when Fermín is 50 years old, well, no. I want to do the same as my friend.”
He also discussed the pressures of fame, describing how life changes dramatically once a player retires.
“When you’re playing, fame is unbearable. You have no privacy in any aspect of your life. We had some because there weren’t so many social media platforms. Now, sometimes someone stops you. But when you stop playing, your life is completely different. The cloud bursts, you fall, there are two or three years when you don’t know where you are, and then you realize that this is the real world. Real Madrid or Barcelona aren’t this world. You live in an incredible bubble. You can enjoy being on cloud nine too. You see a kid’s face when they see Fermín or Lamine, that’s the greatest happiness for a footballer. But many times you have a bad day or you behave badly towards someone, and that’s not reality. We’re normal people, and we have good days, bad days, and we need our privacy. I would have loved to go skinny dipping on a beach, but it’s impossible, I’ve never been able to do it.”
Guti added a lighter anecdote from his career, recalling a time he arrived late to training due to a time change.
“I arrived an hour late to training one day because of the time change. Now your phone changes the time when you wake up. It’s true. An hour late because of that. I’ve lived through many eras.”
He also reflected on how different football is today compared to when he was coming through the ranks, particularly in terms of finances and opportunities for young players.
“Until I was 17, I never thought I could play for Real Madrid or be a professional. I just enjoyed football. When I was 18, they offered me a professional contract, gave me some money, and I thought, ‘Maybe.’ I was earning a million pesetas a year. That’s €6,000 in today’s money. For me, it was incredible. Fermín, don’t tell me that life has changed (laughs). Now they get paid at the youth level. Kids who come from elsewhere are starting to get paid. Before, to get a professional contract or even a boot contract, you had to have been with the first team for a while. Now, kids who stand out at the youth level get a contract and their boots.”
His first purchase with his early earnings was also a memorable one.
“I bought a Siemens with my first paycheck. It was awesome. I was the only one in my neighborhood who had a mobile phone. I was one of the first to have a mobile phone.”
Looking back on his playing career, Guti highlighted one particular Clásico as his favorite, despite not winning it.
“We didn’t win that Clásico, but it’s my favorite: We had just been eliminated by Bayern. It was a 3-3 draw, with Messi scoring three goals. The team regained confidence and we became league champions, coming back from a 9-point deficit against Barcelona.”
Finally, he named Fabio Capello as the best coach he worked under, while leaving his criticism of others deliberately vague.
“The best coach I’ve ever had was Capello. The worst? Many.”
