Redondo

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Fernando Redondo
Alias(es)	Steel Gabriel 144
Gender	Male
Nationality	Argentine 97
Affiliation	Sampdoria; Manchester United; AC Milan 101 194 256
Occupation/Role	Professional footballer; defensive and all-around midfielder 101
Status	Active footballer 343
First Appearance	Mentioned in Chapter 94; first on-page meeting with Dejan Lu in Chapter 98 94 98

Background / History

Redondo was raised in a wealthy Argentine family; his father was a businessman, and he was regarded as a prodigy from an early age. He declined an Argentina national-team call-up to focus on his studies, while also objecting to Carlos Bilardo's style of football. 97

A reserved child who spent much of his time reading, Redondo developed interests in poetry, One Hundred Years of Solitude, Latin rock, fashion, and heroic stories. Dejan Lu's rescue of a family from a burning building deeply affected him, and Redondo considered Dejan the kind of superhero he had imagined as a child. 98

He accepted Sampdoria's invitation after learning that Dejan would be there, openly calling Dejan his idol. He quickly became part of the club's core, making an impressive debut against Red Star Belgrade, assisting Dejan and scoring his first Sampdoria goal. 98 101

At Sampdoria, Redondo developed from a highly rated newcomer into the side's midfield organizer. Commentators described him as the team's “lookout,” responsible for setting its direction and controlling transitions between attack and defense. 125 He later played for Manchester United, where his presence was credited with transforming the side, before joining AC Milan alongside Dejan. 182 256

Appearance

Redondo is a long-haired, athletic midfielder with a notably broad and muscular build. His carefully managed appearance is as important to him as his football.

• Long hair and strikingly white teeth. 98 101
• Broad frame, long limbs, and exceptional physical strength in duels. 110 163
• Known for tailored suits, expensive custom shoes, diamond cufflinks, and watches. 141
• Maintains a polished public image and is notably uncomfortable when reporters photograph him eating or dressing casually. 151

Personality

Redondo is intellectually curious, artistic, and highly particular about the people and environments around him. He reads constantly, studies fashion, attends cultural events, and is interested in literature, film, manga, and Chinese chess. 98 140 323

He is initially reserved around people he does not respect, but becomes talkative and animated once engaged. His strong concern for his appearance does not make him passive: he can be confrontational in interviews, sharply dismissive of opponents, and unafraid to challenge reporters. 98 157 194

His loyalty to Dejan is especially pronounced. He repeatedly looks after him while injured, worries about his dangerous motorcycle ambitions, and reacts strongly when others harm or exploit him. 115 171 184

Abilities & Skills

Defensive Midfield Play

Redondo combines positional awareness with tackling, pressing, and physical control.

• Uses his long limbs and upper-body strength to shield the ball and overwhelm opponents in duels. 163 170
• Can neutralize elite dribblers through anticipation rather than reckless challenges, including intercepting Michael Laudrup's sombrero flick. 247 248
• Covers teammates quickly, as shown when he and Pari closed down Maradona from both sides. 156
• His turning speed is comparatively less sharp because of his heavier build, though his footwork reactions remain quick. 163

Dribbling and Ball Retention

Unlike a conventional defensive midfielder, Redondo is capable of carrying the ball through pressure.

• Controls the ball with small touches while keeping his head up to read opponents' movements. 106
• Uses his body to protect possession and can force his way past multiple defenders. 163
• Is regarded by Dejan as Serie A's best dribbling defensive midfielder. 105
• His willingness to dribble can occasionally lead to mistakes, as when he became distressed after overplaying the ball in a match. 105

Distribution and Tempo Control

Redondo serves as a midfield metronome while retaining the ability to create directly.

• Regulates Sampdoria's rhythm and enables rapid switches between attack and defense. 125
• Delivers long forward passes, including a pass of more than 65 meters to launch Dejan's attack. 163
• Uses calm circulation to stabilize matches when opponents do not press aggressively. 155
• Combines tempo control with forward surges rather than functioning only as a static holding midfielder. 256

Physicality

Redondo's physique is a defining part of his play.

• His build and balance allow him to withstand opponents' attempts to push or pull him off the ball. 121 170
• His tackles were described as more forceful than those of Sampdoria's established midfielders during his debut. 101
• He received a red card for a tackle on De Agostini, though Boskov and Dejan defended his character afterward. 121

Club Career

Club	Chapters	Documented role and events
Sampdoria	98–178	Joined because of Dejan's presence; debuted against Red Star Belgrade, assisted Dejan, and scored his first goal for the club. Became the side's midfield controller and one of its most important players. 98 101 125
Manchester United	182–255	Became a key member of Manchester United's revitalized side and regularly represented the club at major European matches and press conferences. 182 194
AC Milan	256–343	Unveiled with Dejan at Milan and continued to operate as an elite central midfielder, combining pressing, distribution, and physical duels. 256 319 343

Relationships

• Dejan Lu — Idol, teammate, and closest friend. Redondo joined Sampdoria because of Dejan, receives guidance from him on and off the pitch, and is fiercely protective of him. 98 105 171
• Vujadin Boskov — Sampdoria coach. Boskov initially worried that Redondo's headstrong personality could cause dressing-room conflict, but later defended his place and character after his dismissal against Juventus. 97 121
• Roberto Mancini — Sampdoria teammate and friend. Their similar concern for maintaining an idol-like public image is repeatedly noted, though they often tease one another. 108 114
• Gianluca Vialli — Sampdoria teammate. Vialli respects Redondo's tactical explanations and recognizes his defensive effectiveness. 110 149
• Alex Ferguson — Manchester United manager. Ferguson trusted Redondo to represent the club in a sensitive post-match press conference and appreciated his sharp responses. 194
• Michael Laudrup — Frequent high-level opponent. Redondo repeatedly anticipated and stopped Laudrup's favored dribbling moves. 176 247 248

Notable Quotes

“In training, I face players who are ten times better at dribbling than you, so don't think about pulling tricks on me.” 248

“Dejan is an artist on the green pitch. Everyone should understand that it's an honor to play with such a great player, whether as a teammate or an opponent.” 194

Trivia

• Redondo wants to write his own autobiography so that journalists cannot distort his views. 253 256
• He has a strong interest in fashion and once considered Manchester's distance from London Fashion Week a downside of playing there. 191
• He plays Chinese chess well enough to challenge Dejan for more than fifty moves despite limited experience. 323
• He is an accomplished swimmer, though he once used a movie-inspired and unsafe strike to help subdue a drowning child. 110