María’s grandson was back in town this weekend, and everyone came to say hello. They waited for his bus to arrive and stood waving when it left again. They sang his name and held signs welcoming him home. They held cameras and things to sign; most of all, they held him and close. Girona’s coach now, he had come to defeat them, they knew, but Miguel Ángel Sánchez Muñoz could never hurt them, even if he won. Especially if he won. They call him Míchel I of Vallecas, son of Benjamin, Candela and the streets of this self-declared Independent People’s Republic east of Madrid, and these streets don’t forget. They always knew he was the best; now, they’re proud to say, everyone else does too.
That’s their boy, the kid from down here way up there. The boy who turned down Barcelona and Madrid because all he wanted was to play for Rayo Vallecano – which he did for 16 years – stands above them both and everyone else as well. That’s his Girona side moving clear at the top of La Liga by coming from behind to win 2-1 against Rayo, their Rayo and his too. Sure, they wanted to win but some defeats are easier to take and his was a success they could share. This, like his team, had been special, from the moment he walked on to the pitch and the Bukaneros, Rayo’s fans, held up cards declaring “María’s grandson, welcome back to the barrio [neighbourhood]”, to the moment he walked away again.
