Veteran Real Madrid defender looks set for summer move to kingdom

Four days before turning thirty-four, in January of last year, Nacho realized a goal that he had been nurturing for the better part of his life. In front of thousands of joyous Real Madrid supporters, he accepted a trophy with the captain's armband over his right bicep and raised it to the sky above Riyadh.

With that victory—which was all the more wonderful because Barcelona had recently lost the Spanish Super Cup final 4-1—the trophy raises quickly became routine, three in a row. As part of the Spanish team that has made such an exciting start to the European Championship in Germany, Nacho may also be prominently featured in the celebratory photos for another significant title in mid-July. The captain of Madrid accepted La Liga silverware in May and the Uefa Champions League earlier this month.