Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Manchester City, Real Madrid, Champions League, Pep Guardiola, Rafael Nadal
Chris Byfield
Topics: Manchester City, Real Madrid, Champions League, Pep Guardiola, Rafael Nadal
Pep Guardiola was spotted wearing one of the rarest watches in the world during Manchester City’s Champions League draw against Real Madrid.
On Wednesday City drew 3-3 with Real at the Bernabeu to leave the Champions League quarter-final tie in the balance ahead of next week’s second leg.
The first half saw Bernardo Silva's early goal cancelled out by two Real Madrid strikes in two minutes.
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Then, Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol’s long-range strikes looked to have secured a dramatic win for Guardiola's men, only for Federico Valverde's sumptuous volley to level proceedings late on
Despite fans having been offered a Champions League classic, among the talking points after the game was one of Guardiola’s sartorial choices on the touchline. Indeed, the Spaniard turned up wearing one of the most exclusive watches money can buy.
Guardiola’s watch was designed by high-end brand Richard Mille and specifically created for tennis superstar Rafael Nadal.
The Calibre RM27-01 boasts a manual winding tourbillon movement and an open design that displays the watch’s gears and hands, while it also features yellow lines and dots to represent the minutes and hours and a red tip on the hands indicating the time.
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The 27-01 edition has also broken the record for being the lightest mechanical watch of all time, weighing just 18.83 grams, including the strap.
The watch is so rare that there are only 50 versions in the world with Guardiola and Nadal among the lucky recipients. In turn, it’s no surprise that it would set you back some £1.1million.
Speaking after his side’s victory, Guardiola told TNT Sports: "It was, I think, a nice game.
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"We started really well and after it is so difficult against Real Madrid because they defend so well and the pace they have up front is unbelievable, so always you concede transitions against that team, it is impossible to control it.
"In the first half, we were a little anxious with the ball. After 2-1 we lose a lot of balls that players do not usually lose. But in the second half, we showed our incredible personality in the way we play because at 2-1, it is a risk if we concede another goal.
"If we come back to Manchester 3-1 or 4-1 it would be difficult. But we continued playing with a lot of composure, much better than the first half. We make two fantastic goals from Phil and Josko. In the end, Madrid after 76 minutes, in this stadium, is an eternity.
"So, 3-3, we will take it. We have to win the game. Win the game to qualify for the semi-final. We will have our people. It will be sold out. We will need all of them to beat the kings of this competition."