- Nadal made the most of his new free time by watching Real Madrid face Liverpool
- The tennis icon waved goodbye to his illustrious career in Malaga last week
- Liverpool vs Real Madrid – Champions League LIVE: Follow Mail Sport’s live blog
Rafael Nadal swapped Centre Court for a seat in the Anfield stands on Wednesday night as he cheered on Real Madrid against Liverpool in the Champions League.
The tennis legend, who hung up his racquet at the Davis Cup in Malaga last week, is an ardent Madrid supporter and was pictured taking his place in a seat at the match.
It was a busy day for Rafa, who also visited the City Football Academy and shared a hug with Pep Guardiola alongside meeting several stars.
The Spanish icon, 38, also met Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish, and Manuel Akanji on his visit to the Premier League champions’ training centre.
Rafa is a big football fan and showed promise as a child before focusing fully on tennis.
His uncle, Miguel Angel Nadal, won five LaLiga titles and a European Cup with Barcelona as well as earning 62 caps for Spain.
Rafael Nadal took his place at Anfield to cheer on Real Madrid against Liverpool on Wednesday
The tennis legend also visited the City Football Academy, where he hugged Pep Guardiola
Rafa was all smiles as he exchanged words with Erling Haaland, who couldn’t help but beam
The recently retired tennis legend shared a photo with City and England winger Jack Grealish
There was also time for a photo with defender Manuel Akanji at the City Football Academy
Nadal did not give fans the iconic headband treatment for this footballing tour but did wrap up well with a thick scarf for the chilly night in Liverpool.
It is just over a week since the King of Clay broke down in tears after his final match in front of his home crowd in the Davis Cup quarter-finals.
Over a stellar career he won 22 Grand Slams, a total only bettered in the men’s game by Novak Djokovic’s 24.
‘The titles, numbers, they’re there. People probably know that. The way I’d like to be remembered more is like a good person from a small village in Mallorca,’ Nadal said in his farewell address.
He insisted ahead of his final tournament that he is at peace with his decision to step away from the sport that made him a global phenomenon.
‘It’s something I have been thinking for quite a long time,’ he said.
‘I could hold for one more year, but why? To say good-bye in every single tournament? I don’t have that ego to need that.
‘For me it doesn’t make sense to keep going knowing that I don’t have the real chance to be competitive the way that I like to be competitive, because my body is not able to give me the possibility to do that very often.’
