Newell’s beat Central Córdoba 1-0 at home and one of the great aegrías for the “leper” people ue the goal of Maxi Rodríguez from a free kick. The crassed and shirtless celebration was not one more, as it could be the last after the announcement of his football challenge, shortly after turning 41 years old. Through a video on his social networks, and for almost four minutes, the midfielder expressed himself with mixed feelings for a decision that he described as “difficult”, but with the tranquility of having left everything, in addition to a path full of great moments in clubs and the Argentine National Team.
“I have something to tell you,” Maxi’s post began, where he later released several emotional phrases. “There came a time that I never thought would come, or the one that we football players want to never come: to retire from football. It’s a difficult decision but I’m calm,” he said. It was many years of career and I gave myself to the maximum. I emptied myself completely and I have nothing more to give,” he added. “Many things come to mind, from those first steps in the ‘baby’ that my grandfather took me to the effort of my old woman to accompany me to play.” On the other hand, he remarked all his way, with “Leprosy” at the forefront of everything. “I fulfilled the dream of playing in the Primera de Newell’s and then I had the support of my wife to go to Europe, always giving me her support so that I never lowered my arms,” he recalled after his steps by Liverpool, Atletico Madrid and Espanyol de Barcelona.
The fan represented on the pitch. The symbol of the sense of belonging. The idol. Thank you for your love for colors and for being the protagonist of our story.WE LOVE YOU @MR11ok! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/J2WoLhIK80 — Newell’s Old Boys (@Newells)
November 26, 2021
Closing his words, he expressed his desire to be remembered as “a great companion and a great person”; and explained that he chose to say goodbye “like this, natural, even if it is difficult to speak now.” Maxi says goodbye at the right time and at a time when at Newell’s he is more of a locker room leader than anything else. Throughout his career, the “Fiera” retires with six titles in total: a League Cup (Liverpool), Final Tournament 2013 (Newell’s), Uruguayan Championship 2017 and 2018 and Uruguayan Super Cup 2017 (Peñarol), but will be remembered for his goals to Mexico in the 2006 World Cup and the penalty to Holland in Brazil 2014 with the major, and the consecration with the U20 in the World Cup of Argentina 2001.
