My first week at Escuela Universitaria Real Madrid exceeded all expectations, from watching my first live Champions League match at the Bernabéu to attending a press conference with Xabi Alonso. It was the perfect start to an exciting year in Madrid.

The first time I stepped into the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, I was genuinely lost for words. It is a venue often seen on television or through videos and photographs online, yet none of them truly capture its magnitude. Having visited numerous football stadiums in different countries, I can confidently say that nothing compares to the Bernabéu. With space for more than 80,000 spectators, the stadium creates an atmosphere unlike any other.

To describe stepping into that stadium as special would be an understatement. Being surrounded by tens of thousands of people who share the same passion for football creates a sense of unity. You can feel the exictement, the tension, the love for the game and for what is about to come. When the players walk onto the pitch and the anthem begins, the sound of more than 80,000 voices singing together creates an unforgettable experience.

However, attending my first live Champions League match was not the only highlight of my first week as a master’s student at Escuela Universitaria Real Madrid. Only a few days later, I had the opportunity to attend a press conference at Real Madrid City featuring Xabi Alonso and to observe the first team’s training session. It was an extraordinary experience to be in such close proximity to world-class players such as Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Jr. and Jude Bellingham.

Watching these athletes, whom I had previously only seen on television, train just a few meters away felt surreal. When Xabi Alonso entered the press conference room and sat nearby, I realised the significance of the moment. It was then that I fully understood the privilege of studying in Madrid and being part of such a unique academic program.