This story was originally written by Javier Aznar for GQ referencing Fabio Coentrao substituting for Real Madrid vs Atleti match and is originally in Spanish. It best known simply as the Fabio Coentrao copypasta.
SUNDAY, three days for the match
Fabio Coentrao is in a tank top in his living room, laying on the couch, watching a repeat of 'The Simpsons' while rolling a cigarette. His phone rings. He places the cigarrette on his ear and pick up the phone with some reluctance.
Coentrao: [dry cough] Yes?
Ancelotti: Fabio? How are you. I am the manager. I think we need you for the next week. Marcelo is suspended.
Coentrao: [Covers the handset with one hand and whispers a pair of swear words in Portuguese. Breathes deeply. Checks his agenda. Gets back on the phone more calmed] When will it be? Thursday I can't. Poker game with the lads.
Ancelotti: No. There's no Champions on Thursday. On Wednesday. Against Atleti.
Coentrao: In Bilbao?
Ancelotti: No, Fabio. Against last year's team. The ones from Lisbon.
Coentrao: [Writes down the date in an empty box of pizza] OK, mister. On Wednesday, I'll be there. Call me a cab, I'm still without my driving license. Do I need to go to Valdebebas these days?
Ancelotti: Mmmm. It wont be necessary. As long as you're ready for Wednesday it'll be fine. I count on you, eh. By the way, Benzema is injured. Chicharito will play.
Coentrao: Who?
Ancelotti: Chicharito. The Mexican who came this summer. The one who has been training with us since October? Well, nevermind. I'll introduce you on Wednesday. Don't forget to bring a white shirt.
Coentrao: Ok, boss.
Coentrao hangs up and sighs. There is smoke in the room. He starts looking for his boots through piles of clothes, dolls made ​​with cans of beer and Chinese food leftovers. He doesn't remember where he put them the last time. He doesn't even remember his last game. Smells the white shirt. Ugh.
MONDAY, two days before the match
The phone rings again. 12:36 in the morning. Fabio's hand emerge from the sheets trying to reach the nightstand. Who will call such an ungodly hour? There must be an emergency.
Ronaldo: Fabio, I'm Cris. How you doing monster. Did I wake you up?
Coentrao: [With sleepy voice but pretending to be awake] Hey, Cris. Nothing nothing. Nah, don't worry. I was doing some pushups.
Ronaldo: Hey, as the mister said, we need you strong for Wednesday. Like the old times.
Coentrao: Yes, yes. Claro. Count on it. He also told me that we play with a Colombian. ChapulĂn or something like that.
[Awkward silence]
Ronaldo: This ... yes. That's him. Get fit, man. We are all counting on you.
Coentrao: Tranqui, tron.
TUESDAY, one day before the match
Fabio goes to the park in front of his house to jog a little. He wears some New Balance sneakers he used to play tennis in 98 and a shirt with "What happens in Cascais stays in Cascais." written on it. After doing some stretching, runs 10 minutes and starts coughing. Well, enough for today, he thinks while he checks his heart rate. Subjecting the body to great efforts before the game could be damaging. So unprofessional.
Turns on the TV and Barça is playing against PSG. Didn't they play this year already? Thinks a confused Fabio. He laughs every time the camera focuses on David Luiz's hair.
WEDNESDAY, gameday
Fabio gets to the stadium by taxi. He doesn't remember very well where's the entrance to the locker room. A nice gentleman named Chendo accompanies him to his locker. He dresses. He senses the tense atmosphere in the locker room. They will play with Sergio Ramos in the midfield, which sounds strange. But Fabio never asks questions. He just follows orders. There's a guy by his side with the #14 praying on his knees. Xabi Alonso looks different. Maybe he shaved.
He steps onto the pitch and right as the Champions League anthem starts, Fabio turns. He fights every ball. He leaves it all on the pitch. Spectacular. After 87 minutes, the praying guy scores. He seems excited. Public chants a strange name. Spanish is a weird language, Fabio thinks while he crashes with RaĂşl GarcĂa after a split ball.
Minute 90. Subbed off. The public recognizes his effort.
He showers and Ancelotti congratulates him.
Ancelotti: Huge game, Fabio. Coentrao: Thank you, mister. It's not important. Here I am for what you need. Call me for the second leg.
Ancelotti is puzzled but prefers to say nothing. Coentrao leaves the Bernabeu without saying goodbye to anyone or talking to the press, lights a Lucky Strike and tries to stop a taxi.
Ancelotti shakes his head and smiles. Opens a pack of gum, arching an eyebrow, and starts chewing while he mumbles: "There's a method to his madness."
Original (Spanish)
Coentrao: [Tos ronca] ÂżSĂ?
Ancelotti: ÂżFabio? QuĂ© tal. Soy el mĂster. Creo que te necesitamos para la semana que viene. Marcelo está sancionado.
Coentrao: [Tapa el auricular con una mano y susurra un par de tacos ahogados en portuguĂ©s. Respira hondo. Mira la agenda del mĂłvil. Vuelve a ponerse al telĂ©fono algo más sereno] ÂżPara cuándo serĂa? El jueves no puedo. Tengo partida de pĂłker con los muchachos.
Ancelotti: No. El jueves no hay Champions. El miércoles. Contra el Atleti.
Coentrao: ÂżEn Bilbao?
Ancelotti: No, Fabio. Contra los del año pasado. Los de Lisboa.
Coentrao: [Apunta la fecha y la hora del partido en la caja vacĂa de una pizza] OK, mĂster. El miĂ©rcoles estarĂ© por ahĂ. Llamadme un taxi que sigo sin carnet. ÂżHace falta que me pase estos dĂas por Valdebebas.
Ancelotti: Mmmm. Creo que no. Con que estés el miércoles un rato antes, me vale. Cuento contigo, eh. Por cierto, también va a ser baja Benzema. Juega Chicharito.
Coentrao: ¿Quién?
Ancelotti: Chicharito. El mexicano que vino este verano. ¿Uno que lleva entrenando con gorro desde octubre? Bueno, nada, déjalo. Te lo presento el miércoles. Tú no te olvides de llevar una camiseta blanca.
Coentrao: OĂdo, jefe.
Coentrao cuelga y suspira. Hay una humareda en el salón que trata de apartar con aspavientos. Empieza a buscar sus botas entre montones de ropa, muñecos hechos con latas de cervezas y comida china a domicilio. No se acuerda de dónde las puso por última vez. Ni siquiera se acuerda de su último partido. Huele la camiseta blanca. Uf.
LUNES, a dos dĂas del partido Vuelve a sonar el telĂ©fono de casa. Son las 12:36 del mediodĂa. Una mano de Fabio emerge del edredĂłn tratando de alcanzar el telĂ©fono de la mesita de noche. ÂżQuiĂ©n llamará a esas horas intempestivas? Debe de tratarse de una urgencia.
Ronaldo: Fabio, soy Cris. CĂłmo andas, monstruo. ÂżTe he despertado?
Coentrao: [Con voz somnolienta pero aparentando estar despierto] Hey, Cris. Nada, nada. QuĂ© va, tranquilo. Me has pillado aquĂ, haciendo unas flexiones.
Ronaldo: Oye, como ya te habrá comentado el mĂster, te necesitamos fuerte para el miĂ©rcoles. Como en los viejos tiempos.
Coentrao: SĂ, sĂ. Claro. Cuenta con ello. TambiĂ©n me ha dicho que juega un colombiano. Un tal ChapulĂn.
[Silencio incĂłmodo]
Ronaldo: Esto…sĂ. El mismo. Ponte en forma, tĂo. Contamos todos contigo.
Coentrao: Tranqui, tron.
MARTES, vĂspera de partido Fabio sale a correr por el parque que tiene enfrente de casa. Lleva unas New Balance viejas que usaba para jugar al tenis en el 98 y una camiseta de “Lo que pasa en Cascais se queda en Cascais”. Tras hacer unos estiramientos, corre 10 minutos y comienza a toser. Bueno, por hoy será suficiente_, piensa mientras se mide las pulsaciones. PodrĂa ser contraproducente someter al cuerpo a grandes esfuerzos en vĂsperas del partido. Hasta poco profesional._
Enciende la televisiĂłn y está jugando el Barça contra el PSG. ÂżPero estos no jugaron este año ya? piensa un Fabio confundido. Se rĂe cada vez que la cámara enfoca el pelo de David Luiz.
MIÉRCOLES, dĂa del partido Llega al estadio en taxi. No se acuerda muy bien de por dĂłnde se accede al vestuario. Un señor simpático llamado Chendo le acompaña hasta su taquilla. Se viste. Nota el ambiente tenso en el vestuario. Van a jugar con Sergio Ramos de mediocentro, lo que le suena algo extraño. Pero Fabio nunca hace preguntas. Solo cumple Ăłrdenes. Hay un chico a su lado que lleva el 14 que se pone a rezar de rodillas. QuĂ© raro está Xabi Alonso. Se ha debido de afeitar.
Salta al campo y, cuando empieza a sonar el himno de la Champions, Fabio se transforma. Pelea todos los balones. Salta a por todas. Va al choque. Se deja la piel. Llega, centra y hace coberturas. Está espectacular. En el minuto 87, marca gol el chico que rezaba de rodillas. Parece emocionado. El pĂşblico corea un nombre extraño. QuĂ© difĂcil es el castellano piensa Fabio mientras salta por los aires tras un balĂłn dividido con RaĂşl GarcĂa.
Es sustituido en el minuto 90 y el pĂşblico reconoce su esfuerzo.
Se ducha y recibe la enhorabuena de Ancelotti.
Ancelotti: Enorme partido, Fabio.
Coentrao: Gracias, mĂster. No tiene importancia. AquĂ estoy para lo que necesite. Llámeme para el partido de vuelta.
Ancelotti se queda desconcertado pero prefiere por no decir nada. Coentrao abandona el Bernabéu, sin despedirse de nadie ni hablar con la prensa, mientras se enciende un Lucky Strike y trata de parar un taxi en la Castellana.
Ancelotti sacude la cabeza y esboza una sonrisa mientras le ve marchar. Abre un paquete de chicles, arquea una ceja, y se echa a la boca ocho chicles mientras musita entre dientes: "Hay método en su locura".