Tennis legend Rafael Nadal has expressed his gratitude after receiving a match-worn World Cup final shirt from a 2010s football icon.
The Spaniard has primarily been focused on running his Rafael Nadal Academy on the island of Mallorca following retirement, with one of his footballing heroes paying a visit to the training centre this week.
The world-class facility was founded in 2016 and is located in Nadal’s hometown of Manacor, attracting some of the biggest names in sport.
Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud, the current world No.3 and world No.5 tennis players respectively, are among the training centre’s star alumni.
The impressive Rafael Nadal Academy boasts 43 tennis courts, 12 padel courts, two squash courts, a football pitch and two swimming pools.
There is also a hotel, restaurants, a residence, a museum, a sports medicine facility and an international school for those aged from 10 to 18.
A 2010s football icon – David Villa – visited the Rafael Nadal Academy this week to give the 22-time major champion a special World Cup final shirt.
‘Thank you @Guaje7Villa for visiting the @rnadalacademy!’ Nadal posted on Tuesday via his X account on social media.
‘And thank you for giving us your @FIFAWorldCup 2010 final shirt. I have fond memories of a historic day for sport [in Spain] that I was lucky enough to experience in South Africa. We will be displaying it in the Museum!’
Villa, 43, is regarded as one of the best strikers of his generation and is the current all-time top goalscorer of the Spain national team.
Starting his career at Sporting Gijón, Villa enjoyed notable success in the 2000s, clinching Copa del Rey trophies with Real Zaragoza and Valencia, while he was also part of the Spain team which won Euro 2008.
But his career went to the next level in the following decade as he firmly cemented his legendary status, helping Spain to World Cup glory in 2010.
The same year, he joined Barcelona in a €40m deal, winning La Liga and the Champions League in his debut season, scoring in the final of the latter competition.
He played a total of 119 games for Barcelona, conjuring up 48 goals and 24 assists.
Villa was named in the FIFPro World XI and UEFA Team of the Year in 2010 and also won the Super Cup and Club World Cup with Barcelona in 2011.
After landing his third Copa del Rey trophy in 2012, Villa moved to Atletico Madrid the following year and helped them win La Liga in 2013-14.
Villa, who later played in the United States, Australia and Japan, entered retirement in 2020 to bring his stunning football career to an end.
MORE: No alcohol allowed at Saudi World Cup 2034 including ‘in stadiums and hotels’
