The Grandfather Who Saved Atleti: Ramón Grosso, from Madrid to the Manzanares
The story of Ramón Grosso, grandfather of Marcos Llorente, is a curious chapter in the rivalry between Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid. In the 1963-64 season, Atlético was going through economic and sporting difficulties, even reaching last place on matchday nine.
Faced with this situation, the then president of Atlético, Javier Barroso, requested Real Madrid to loan Grosso, a young striker from Plus Ultra. Grosso debuted with Atlético in the second half of the season and his impact was immediate.
In his first match, he scored the winning goal against Murcia, a crucial goal that lifted the team from last place and marked the beginning of a comeback. Although he only played one season, Grosso contributed significantly to Atlético’s salvation, which ultimately finished seventh.
After his time at Atlético, Grosso returned to Real Madrid, where he had a successful career of twelve seasons, winning the 1966 European Cup, seven La Liga titles and three Copa del Rey titles. He became a symbol of the club, known for his dedication and fighting spirit.
Despite his successful career at Real Madrid, Grosso never forgot his time at Atlético. Interestingly, years later, his grandson, Marcos Llorente, would end up playing for Atlético, demonstrating once again the twists and turns of football.
