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"Mr. Solari, what are your thoughts on André's performance today?"
After Simeone had finished with the press, a reporter from AS lobbed what seemed like a straightforward question at the Real Madrid manager. The room fell quiet. Every journalist present fixed their attention on Solari's face.
The question was simple for anyone else. For Solari, it was a minefield.
Everyone knew the history. When André had been at Castilla, Solari was the head coach. The decision to terminate André's contract had been his call.
"André's performance was excellent." Solari's voice was measured, careful. "It's impressive how much he's changed in just six months."
Brief. Diplomatic. The answer of a man holding his nose and swallowing something bitter.
"Mr. Solari—" A reporter from Mundo Deportivo, the Barcelona-aligned paper, jumped in with barely concealed malice. "Today we saw former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane alongside President Florentino in the stadium box. Does this indicate that Mr. Florentino is dissatisfied with your results?"
Solari's brow furrowed.
"I'm not aware of the situation you're describing. We all know that Mr. Zidane made enormous contributions to Real Madrid, both as a player and as a coach. As club president, I think it's perfectly normal for Florentino to watch matches alongside him. I don't see what that has to do with me."
The reporter hadn't expected a real answer. The question was designed to annoy, not to inform.
Shortly after, the press conference ended. Hastily.
Nobody had predicted this round's results. All three title contenders had drawn, gaining just a single point each. Real Madrid and Atlético's stalemate should have been good news for Barcelona—but they'd failed to capitalise, held goalless by Athletic Bilbao.
The title race remained as tight as ever.
But attention was already shifting elsewhere. The Champions League Round of 16 was about to begin. And those following the draw noticed something intriguing: Atlético Madrid, having qualified as group runners-up, would face Juventus.
When the bracket had first been confirmed, it was merely an interesting matchup. But after André's transfer from Oviedo to Atlético—and especially after his stunning derby performance—this tie had become something else entirely.
Family drama. Cousins on opposite sides. The media couldn't resist.
UEFA's official promotional poster for the fixture featured both Cristiano Ronaldo and André prominently, each positioned front and centre for their respective clubs.
The day after the Real Madrid match, Atlético's media relations department was overwhelmed with interview requests for André. Every major Spanish outlet wanted a piece of him.
In Turin, Cristiano faced similar harassment.
"We're professional players," Cristiano told the assembled reporters. "Once we step onto the pitch, we have to be responsible to the shirt we're wearing. In that moment, there's no Cristiano from Portugal—only Cristiano of Juventus. I believe André feels the same way." He paused. "As for whether we'll face each other directly... I think it's unlikely. We're both forwards."
When asked whether his family would attend the match and who they'd support, Cristiano flashed his trademark confidence.
"My entire family will definitely support me."
The answer was smooth, polished—vintage Cristiano media management. It earned him a wave of appreciation from the Juventus faithful.
Then the reporters found his mother.
When asked which team she would cheer for when her two sons faced each other, Dolores Aveiro didn't hesitate.
"André!"
The single word made headlines across Europe. Cristiano's confident prediction suddenly looked rather awkward.
Back in Madrid, André's own response was more measured.
"Cristiano is my idol. I've always hoped to become a player like him, and in life, he's a role model for me. But when the match begins, I'll give everything to help my team."
Standard. Professional. Exactly what Atlético's media team had coached him to say.
The first leg would be held at the Wanda Metropolitano. For Cristiano, it marked his first return to Madrid since leaving Spain.
Before the Champions League fixture, Atlético had one more league match to navigate. The tight schedule was exactly why Burgos and the other coaches had urged Simeone to sacrifice the Copa del Rey.
The twenty-fourth round of La Liga arrived.
Atlético travelled to Vallecas to face Rayo Vallecano, who sat deep in the relegation zone. André was rested on the bench. To preserve energy for the upcoming European clash, Simeone also left Godín, Koke, and Saúl among the substitutes.
Less than five minutes in, Lemar swung a cross into the box. Rayo centre-back Amat, under pressure, headed the ball past his own goalkeeper.
1-0.
An own goal. A gift. And ultimately, the only goal of the match.
Atlético escaped Vallecas with three points and their key players fresh.
Real Madrid weren't so fortunate.
Also facing Champions League commitments, they hosted Girona—seventeenth in the table, hardly formidable opposition. Yet Real Madrid lost 1-2 at home, dropping a full eight points behind Atlético in the standings.
Solari's position was beginning to look precarious.
Barcelona, meanwhile, handled their business at the Camp Nou, defeating Valladolid 1-0 to maintain their lead at the top.
The Real Madrid defeat felt like the beginning of the end for Solari. The pressure was mounting. The results weren't coming. And somewhere in a private box, Florentino's offer to Zidane still hung in the air.
At Atlético's training ground, Simeone locked down the squad. Closed training sessions. A media blackout. No interviews, no distractions.
The Champions League was coming.
And André had a date with destiny.