Goodbye?: 20 May 2025

A Farewell Letter Edition of the Daily Merengue

A Series of Farewell Letters From Juninho.

別れの挨拶の練習をしているだけ

I’m just practicing how to say goodbye.

Welcome to The Daily Merengue — a place where you can feel free to discuss all things football. Do not be alarmed by the overt RMCF bias. It’s in the name!

Shoutout to the Mods who do a fantastic job, Valyrian Steel, KungFuZizou, NeRObutBlanco, Felipejack, and Juninho (the “The Greatest Mod”).

Letter #1 — Goodbye?

Dear MM

For a while I’ve been practicing how to say goodbye. And honestly, I still am. I still haven’t really figured out how to do this so bear with me through these next 5-6 farewell letters. I’m sorry if I ramble a bit — I’m just trying my best to make sure that all these complicated thoughts + emotions reach you standing in the dark…one last time.

Somewhat following today’s theme, I’ll be vulnerable and admit that this is hard… or at least it’s harder than I expected it to be. I didn’t expect to care this much when starting to type this first farewell letter. But maybe that was naive. Idk. I’ve been practicing how to say goodbye for a long time, so I just assumed it would be easy to let go. I guess I just assumed it would feel like a weight was being lifted from my shoulders. But instead some of it feels like failure. Some of it feels like guilt. Some of it feels like walking away without saying sorry. Idk walking away before redemption. Walking away without actually having made a difference. But maybe that’s just my own arrogance. Idk…maybe I’m addicted to the power or the notoriety? Maybe I’m addicted to the escape? Idk. I’m just a mortal man standing on a pulpit and praying that you’re still listening. Praying that someday this will l make sense.

Modric. I’m going to try to not dwell on this as it was dissected ad naseuam throughout the season and yesterday…but I just wanted to briefly say: I get it. It’s hard to say goodbye. Not because you’re selfish or arrogant. It’s just hard to tell yourself that you no longer can be this idolized version of yourself. It’s hard to wake up the next day and look at yourself in the mirror and admit that the best days are behind you. That the aches and pains don’t heal as quickly. That your hair is grey. That now you’re simply a name stacked in the archives of history. And often when you’ve been doing something for so long, with so much flare and intensity, you realize that this profession or act almost defines who you are as a human being. And whats next? Who are you when the stadium lights turn off? Who are you when the DT author line vanishes. Are you anything in this gran scheme of the universe? Are you anything more than a grain of sand?…Just a mortal man.

I’m not arrogant enough to immediately attribute all of these complex thought/emotions to Luka Modric’s decisions because I’m not definitively sure why he carries on. Idk. I just don’t blame him for trying. Because it’s hard to say goodbye.

Now, from a club POV. Luka Modric likely needs to depart in the summer 2025. Xabi and these rush of young signings is a signal towards a new era. It’s a signal towards new leadership and potentially it’s finally time for these new vibrantly youthful players to fully bear the weight and responsibility of the Real Madrid CF crest. It’s time to admit that we need to say goodbye. It’s time to admit that we had some great times. We had legendary moments. Iconic memories. But even kings die. thrones rust.

Carreras + Rodri. Real Madrid is a revolving door. As we say goodbye, others are welcomed. According to almost every report, Carreras has agreed to terms with Real Madrid and likely will be announced in the upcoming 1-2 weeks. Manchester United won’t activate their buyback clause and Benfica insists on the release clause but will likely be willing to compromise on his price. The young former Castilla LB from Ferrol will return home. I’ll admit that I don’t know much about this player but I’m excited to see new faces at our fullback positions. I’m excited to see us trying to improve.

Regarding the Rodri rumors that are circulating, I’m just here to quickly say that I am not entirely sure what’s true and what it isn’t but I’d be extremely surprised if this transfer happened for a multitude of reasons. 1) If Rodri is healthy and proves that he’ll be fit, I’m not sure why City would sell arguably their best player. Rodri is an institutional figure for Pep so I don’t see him giving him up that easily or finding a viable replacement. If Pep could have replaced Rodri, he would’ve done it at some point this season or previously when Rodri was hurt and City’s form dropped. 2) To be quick: a) Rodri purchase doesn’t fit with the RM’s general transfer policy; b) we’d again need to figure out whether he is healthy before allocating huge finances to him; c) we could go cheaper to find a similar style player; and d) we probably would’ve just bought Zubimendi if this was seen as a major need. And this doesn’t even discount if Vini would even be ok with this signing lol.

Departure. This doesn’t really need more explanation but I’m hearing rumblings that we will need to prepare to say goodbye to an otherwise important player. The news details that this player isn’t Rodrygo. ((Disclaimer: IMO this does not mean Rodrygo will not leave or be an additional player to leave.)) Just that this could be an emotionally tough departure.

If i’m reading between the lines, it may be imperative for us to continue to monitor the renewals of Vini, Courtois and Rudiger. Most of Real Madrid twitter has already partially sold Tchouameni / Rodrygo so I’m doubtful that this rumor concerns them (“emotionally tough departure”). I’m also not entirely sure that Camavinga rises to the level of “important player” at Madrid since he isn’t a nailed starter yet.

Anyway summer has started so get ready.

Sincerely,

Juninho

.

.

.

.

.

.

“It gets easier. Every day it gets a little easier. But you gotta do it every day —that’s the hard part. But it does get easier”