On the surface, there appears to be little in common between Real Madrid and Tranmere Rovers. One, the definitive titan of world football, adored by millions; the other, a comparative minnow of the English pyramid, worshipped by a select few locals. However, quite remarkably, there are tenuous links between the clubs, and as an aficionado of both, I want to celebrate those obscure commonalities.

The all-white home kit is, of course, the most prominent similarity, but two La Fábrica graduates – Pedro Matías and Gerardo Bruna – have also played for Tranmere. Yes, they only made four Rovers appearances combined, but still – I’m fascinated by such peculiar kernels of trivia. Oh, and here’s another: Alan Mahon, a Rovers youth product, once played at the Santiago Bernabéu, for Sporting CP, in a 2000 Champions League tie. That is my go-to conversation starter at parties – and yes, I’m a painfully boring introvert.

Beneath such nebulous and esoteric detritus, though, what if I told you there was once a player who played for the Real Madrid first team after spending time in the Tranmere youth system? What if I told you said player was admired by Zinedine Zidane, the coach...