Real Madrid icon Roberto Carlos wishes his former club could call upon one of his most decorated teammates against Liverpool in the Champions League final, because he’d back him to give Virgil van Dijk a fright.
Brazil great Carlos was part of the Real sides which won the Champions League in 1998, 2000 and 2002, with that first success ending a barren run of 32 years without European football’s most coveted prize.
Four more wins in five seasons between 2014 and 2018, the latter of which came against Liverpool in Kyiv, has extended Real’s record to a remarkable 13 Champions League victories – with a 14th in sight in Paris on Saturday night.
Carlos is convinced that Real will add to their tally against the Reds, but if he had the power to restore one of his decorated former ‘Galactico’ teammates to the peak of their powers he knows who he’d pick.
“Raul,” said the Brazilian icon instantly when asked the question.
So not Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Luis Figo or compatriot Ronaldo then? No.
“Raul knew how to play against English teams,” continued Carlos.
“He would fight and go head-to-head with the defenders, so him against Virgil van Dijk, for example, would be a really good fight. I’d like to see that!”
Van Dijk perhaps wouldn’t.
Raul is one of Real Madrid’s most famous sons, and at the time of his retirement from European football in 2012, no player had scored more goals in the Champions League, a competition he won three times alongside Carlos, scoring goals in the 2000 final against Paris and the 2002 final against Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden Park.
Real’s current marksman Karim Benzema is one of four players who has since surpassed the Spaniard in the annals of Champions League goals, and it’ll be the Frenchman giving Van Dijk a difficult game in Paris, where Carlos is hoping Carlo Ancelotti can outwit Jurgen Klopp.
“They are two great managers, and it will be interesting to see which one stamps their style on the game,” he continued.
“Each one has their own philosophy, and so let’s see which one can come out the best.
“It will be a very difficult game, but I do believe that Real Madrid will come out on top but because they have more experience of playing so many finals.
“I also like the fact that they have come through the biggest teams to get there, such as Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City and so they will have the extra belief they can do it.”
