ISL: Former Real Madrid teammates Borja Fernandez and Roberto Carlos reunite after 10 years

Both Borja and Carlos were members of the 2003-04 Real Madrid team

This year’s ISL might be popular for the high profile battles on field, but an interesting reunion also took place in this year’s tournament. Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) midfielder Borja Fernandez and Brazil legend Roberto Carlos were once teammates in Real Madrid in 2003-04 season. Interestingly Borja is reuniting with his ex-Real Madrid teammate after a gap of ten years that too on the Indian soil.

Borja, who started his career in Real Madrid’s academy in 1996 and, after impressive displays for the C and B-teams, he was finally promoted to the main squad in 2003. During that period, Carlos was already in the peak of his career, playing for the last seven years in the Spanish club.

The Spanish midfielder appeared in 15 La Liga games, that season alongside Carlos making his debut on September 2, 2003 in a 1–1 draw against Villarreal C. He appeared mostly as a late substitute for the Spanish Giants.

Roberto Carlos had already won four La Liga titles with Madrid and was a well acclaimed defender, during that point of time. He even played a key role a year before, in the 2002 UEFA Champions League final providing an assist Zinedine Zidane's winning goal.

Unable to break into the first team, Borja was finally loaned out to RCD Mallorca for the 2005–06 campaign, whereas Carlos became the most capped player in the history of the club till he decided to leave in 2006-07.

Borja played in a host of other Spanish clubs before shifting to India in order to ply his trade for Atletico de Kolkata. Carlos shifted to Fenerbache in Turkey, after leaving Madrid. From there he arrived in Russia to play for Anzhi Makhachkala in the Russian Premier League. The experienced Brazilian took over the coach’s role for Anzhi, after a few months. He made his foray into the ISL as a player cum manager for the Delhi Dynamos this year.

The Delhi franchise team started their campaign on a low, losing their first match 2-0 to FC Goa. Carlos had to come on the field, after half time due to a dismal performance by the team. Atletico on the other hand having won their first match comfortably are in a spot of bother with a number of injuries.0

Their marquee player Helder Postiga had to return to Portugal to treat his injury sustained during the first match. Both the sides will meet on 29th October in Kolkata.