Transfer season starts
December 21st, 2013 – Santiago Bernabéu
It was a moment that would be played for decades, one that would define a generation of football fans.
Adriano Riveiro's bicycle kick winner against Real Madrid had not just won Málaga the match—it had shaken the entire footballing world.
The goal was everywhere.
In slow motion, it was a thing of pure artistry—the way his body twisted mid-air, the perfect technique, the ball slicing through the air before smashing into the top corner.
Diego López's helpless dive.
The stunned silence of the Bernabéu before it erupted into both disbelief and admiration.
On social media, the goal spread like wildfire.
In less than 24 hours, the clip had been viewed over 100 million times.
It wasn't just a goal. It was a statement to the world.
A 17-year-old had just beaten Real Madrid—at the Bernabéu—like he was writing his own script.
The reactions came pouring in from all corners of the globe.
The headlines across Europe were breathless:
"The Birth of a Superstar – Adriano Dethrones Madrid!" (Marca)
"17-Year-Old Prodigy Stuns the Galácticos!" (BBC Sport)
"Adriano Riveiro: The Future of Football Has Arrived!" (L'Equipe)
On Twitter, #AdrianoBicycleKick trended worldwide.
Portuguese Fans:
"Adriano is the Chosen One! He will bring us a World Cup!"
"First Ronaldo, now Adriano—Portugal will dominate for the next decade!"
"I've never seen a player this young with such composure. Unreal."
Spanish Fans (Outside Madrid):
"Málaga is proving that football isn't just about money. What a beautiful story!"
"Adriano didn't just score a goal, he painted a masterpiece!"
Real Madrid Fans:
"I can't even be mad. That goal was pure magic."
"Florentino Pérez, SIGN HIM NOW!"
Barcelona Fans:
"That's a La Masia boy. We need to bring him back home!"
"Xavi and Iniesta would be proud. That goal was footballing poetry." (xD, like they ever scored one!)
Brazilian Fans:
"I still can't believe we let Portugal take him. He should have been ours!"
"Even though I'm mad he didn't pick Brazil, I have to respect that goal. Wow."
General Football Fans:
"This is the next Ballon d'Or winner. Mark my words."
"Adriano Riveiro isn't just the future—he's already the present."
"I don't care who you support, you HAVE to respect what he just did."
The goal had even caught the attention of the greatest players in history.
Lionel Messi:
"That was special. Pure magic. A goal like that stays in history."
Cristiano Ronaldo :
"I've scored many goals, but I've never seen one like that. Take a bow, Adriano!"
Ronaldinho:
"Reminded me of something I'd do in my prime. Magnificent!"
Zlatan Ibrahimović:
"Finally, a bicycle kick that deserves my attention. Welcome to the club, kid."
Even retired legends like Pelé, Maradona, and Zidane were praising the young midfielder.
Adriano had done more than just win a game.
He had become the most talked-about footballer on the planet.
By the time the January transfer window opened, Málaga was bombarded with offers from the biggest clubs in Europe despite Adriano claiming before he wants to stay at Malaga till season end .
Real Madrid: €75 million
Barcelona: €65 million
Manchester United: €70 million
Bayern Munich: €55 million
Paris Saint-Germain: €80 million
Manchester City: €85 million
The numbers were mind-blowing.
At 17 years old, Adriano Riveiro was being valued higher than many famous player in history.
Florentino Pérez personally called Málaga, offering to break the world transfer record in summer, if they would let Adriano join Madrid.
Barcelona sent Puyol and other club legends to try and convince him to return to the Camp Nou. They were politely shown the door.
Jorge Mendes, Adriano's agent, was flooded with calls.
But there was just one problem.
Málaga refused to sell him no matter the price .
Inside Málaga's boardroom, club president Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani gathered his staff.
"We're rejecting every single bid," he said.
There was a stunned silence.
"Sir," the sporting director Mario Husillos began, "We've just received a €85 million offer. That's more than the entire club's yearly budget."
Al Thani didn't even flinch.
"Adriano is our player until June. And I don't care if they offer €100 million—we're not selling our hero in mid-season."
"But what about him?" Husillos asked. "What if he wants to leave?"
The room turned silent. That was the biggest question.
Would Adriano stay loyal to what he said before , or would he be tempted by the biggest clubs in the world?
At the same time, Adriano sat in his apartment, staring at the dozens of messages from club representatives.
It would be so easy to jump ship.
He could be making millions more.
Playing in the Champions League this season.
Lining up alongside players like Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar, or .
But deep down, Adriano knew the truth.
He wasn't finished at Málaga yet.
This team had believed in him when nobody else did. He had promised his teammates they would win together. And he was going to keep that promise.
The next morning, Adriano called Jorge Mendes.
"Reject everything," he said firmly.
Mendes paused. "Are you sure? You do realize no player has ever turned down a €85 million offer before."
"I don't care," Adriano said. "I'm staying at Málaga until the end of the season."
Mendes sighed, then chuckled. "You're something else, Adriano . Alright. Let's make a statement."
Later that day, Málaga held a press conference.
Adriano sat in front of the media, flanked by Pellegrini and Al Thani.
Reporters from all over the world filled the room.
"Adriano, have you made your decision?"
Adriano leaned into the microphone, his voice steady.
"I want to make this clear. I am not leaving Málaga in January. No matter the offer."
The room exploded with flashes and murmurs.
A journalist from Marca spoke up.
"Even if Madrid or Barcelona offer €100 million?"
Adriano smiled. "Even then."
A reporter from Sky Sports followed up.
"But don't you want to play for a Champions League club now?"
Adriano nodded. "Of course. But Málaga is my club. And I promised we would finish the season together. I'm keeping that promise."
The football world went crazy.
"Loyalty in Football Still Exists!" (BBC Sport)
"Adriano Rejects €85 million to Stay at Málaga!" (Marca)
"A 17-Year-Old Just Said No to the Biggest Clubs in the World!" (Sky Sports)
Fans worldwide respected him even more.
"He turned down money and power to stay loyal. That's a real footballer!"
"This kid isn't just talented—he has character."
Even Cristiano Ronaldo, his idol, texted him.
"Proud of you. Not many would've made that decision. Keep writing your own story."
Adriano smiled at the message.
Because his story wasn't over yet.
And he was just getting started.
The world had changed for Málaga CF.
A small club from Andalusia, written off before the season started, had now become the center of global football discussions—all because of one player.
Adriano Riveiro.
His decision to reject massive offers from Europe's biggest clubs had shocked the footballing world. €50-85 million bids? All Turned down. The loyalty he showed to Málaga made him not just a hero to their fans, but a rare symbol of integrity in a game dominated by money.
But now, Málaga faced a new problem.
They were paying their biggest star peanuts compared to his market value.
And the world was watching closely.
Adriano and his agent, Jorge Mendes, arrived at Málaga's headquarters, located within La Rosaleda Stadium.
Inside the boardroom, club president Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani, sporting director Mario Husillos, and several senior executives were already waiting.
Málaga had no choice but to act fast.
If they wanted Adriano to stay for the remainder of the season without distraction, they had to pay him what he was worth—or at least, as much as they could afford.
Once everyone was seated, Sheikh Al Thani spoke first.
"Adriano, before we begin, let me say this—you have changed Málaga forever," he said. "Your performances, your leadership, and your loyalty have inspired millions of people. And for that, we are eternally grateful."
Adriano gave a respectful nod, but remained quiet, waiting for the real conversation to begin.
Husillos leaned forward. "We know that money was never your real motivation. But after rejecting those massive bids, we cannot let you continue earning the €10,000 per week that you were initially signed on."
That number—€10,000 per week—was ridiculous when compared to what other top footballers earned.
For context:
Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid: €400,000 per week
Lionel Messi at Barcelona: €500,000 per week
Gareth Bale at Madrid: €350,000 per week
Even Málaga's other senior players were earning €80,000–€100,000 per week.
Husillos slid a new contract proposal across the table toward Mendes.
"Here's our offer," he said.
Jorge Mendes picked it up and skimmed through the pages.
New Contract Proposal:
€100,000 per week salary (10x increase)
5% goal bonus (every goal earns him €5,000 extra)
Assists bonus, win bonus, and league win bonus
€5 million signing bonus
Adriano raised an eyebrow at the numbers.
It was a huge upgrade from his current salary. It would put him among Málaga's highest-paid players.
But compared to what the big clubs would have paid him?
It was nothing.
Jorge Mendes cleared his throat. "Gentlemen, this is a good offer. But let's be honest—Adriano is worth far more. We've already rejected €85 million offers. He's the most valuable teenager in world football. He should be making €250,000 per week—minimum."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
Al Thani sighed. "We can't afford that, Jorge. You know it."
Mendes nodded. "I understand, which is why Adriano isn't demanding that. But let's make one thing clear—this is not just about money."
All eyes turned to Adriano, who finally spoke for the first time.
"I stayed at Málaga because I believe in this team," Adriano said. "But if I sign this contract, I want something more than money."
Al Thani leaned forward. "What do you want?"
Adriano's eyes were sharp.
"I want this club to fight for the title with everything we have," he said. "I want us to compete, not just survive. We may have taken the other teams by surprise, but after break, they would have developed strategies for us and specifically myself. Not to mention the older players are tired and won't be able to compete with same energy as the start.
If I stay, I want guarantees that we will invest in better facilities, better players, and better staff. Even if I eventually leave, I want to see Malaga become a top club in Europe. I will remember that here I began my journey."
A pause.
Husillos exchanged looks with Al Thani.
The message was clear.
Adriano wasn't just playing for himself. He wanted Málaga to grow into a real powerhouse.
Finally, Al Thani nodded.
"I promise you," the Sheikh said. "I will personally invest more into the club. Do you have any specific ideas? "
Adriano thought for a while and said, " We need more young players. There's a french guy named Griezmann plays for Real Sociedad who could be a great forward option. Also, we need a keeper. De Gea from Manchester united or Jan Oblak from Benfica would be good. Together, They should be within 25 million."
The owner thought for a while and then nodded. " Your request is reasonable, and it's going to bolster Malaga squad further , so I can agree to it. We'll sign them as soon as possible."
Adriano glanced at Mendes, then exhaled.
"Then I'll sign ."
The deal was done.
Final Contract Proposal:
€130,000 per week salary
5% goal bonus (every goal earns him €6,500 extra)
Assists bonus of 5,000 euro,
win bonus 10,000 euro ,
and league win bonus €5 million
6 million euros signing bonus one time.
Adriano Riveiro was officially Málaga's top earner, and even among La liga his wages were quite high. Although he sacrificed a lot in order to make the club take the title win seriously by investing more . He still needs to win a league title to restore the system and unlock his 3rd template after all. He wants to show the world his talent on the grandest stage of all, the world cup!