Nacho Donado and Lothar Matthäus: what happened at the Metropolitano?

Rubén Uría asks Nacho Donado to describe what it was like having Matthäus beside him during Atlético v Bayern. His attempt to get a greeting for 'Club Uría' ended in a wordless refusal and a cracking joke.

Ahead of the match against Bayern Munich, Bayern legend Lothar Matthäus laid into Atlético de Madrid on German TV, calling Atleti "a dirty and unpleasant team". Rubén Uría seized on his link-up with Nacho Donado to ask about the anecdote that had him intrigued: what was it like having Lothar Matthäus two metres away during the game against Bayern?

Nacho Donado explains that he was sitting in his seat, next to the stairs, when a short, slim man walked past. He says he is very good with faces and immediately thought it was Matthäus. The man sat down diagonally from him with a German radio station, and Donado had no doubts. The German was very polite with the Bayern fans who came up to him for photos, so Donado decided to make the most of the opportunity.

He went over, asked him in English for a greeting, and the answer was blunt: a 'no, no, no' gesture, without saying a word. Donado admits he does not know whether Matthäus understood him or found the request complicated and preferred to pass. The German did not want to talk, assuming it was the Spanish press and that he would be asked an awkward question.

Uría rounds it off with humour: "Matthäus saw him coming and thought he was going to ask him whether Atleti are dirty and unpleasant. He went from Happy Meal mode to vinegar mode."