Roberto Carlos will play the Heart Classic Match 2012

This Sunday will be a very special day for all Real Madrid fans. In the morning, 5,000 club members will visit Valdebebas Sport City for their annual meeting. The 32nd League Championship (with all imaginable records) and the brilliant return of Castilla to Second Division will be celebrated for a long. And in the afternoon, from 7:15 pm (CET) the Bernabeu stadium will host the third annual Heart Classic Match. The Real Madrid vs Manchester United (former players) is really interesting for the fans, who has already bought 45,000 tickets.

But the pace of sales will accelerate from now when people know that Roberto Carlos will reappear on Sunday dressed in white. He will start against the Old Red Devils and will see as his dream of playing again at the Bernabeu comes true. With all the supporters that idolized him for eleven years (1996-2007).

Roberto Carlos at the Santiago Bernabeu trophy room
Roberto Carlos at the Santiago Bernabeu trophy room

Do not forget that Brazilian player did not leave Real Madrid as he had wanted. He was a hero of the 30th Spanish League title. In the last match of the season, he started against Mallorca (3-1), had an incredible performance, then put himself the Brazilian flag stuffing his small and muscular body, and said goodbye to the fans who adore him: "I leave with mixed feelings, but I am happy for the fans. They deserve it." Five years later, the club has put together a tribute that will help fill the stands at the Bernabeu. This Sunday will be sung his name as so many times.

Roberto Carlos left five years ago, but has always been emotionally linked with Real Madrid. With Florentino Perez has always had good relationship, as evidenced by the tribute that the president organised on last February 12. On that occasion, on the visit of Levante in a league match, invited Roberto Carlos to the field and the player made the honour kick-off.

On the other hand, Sunday's game will allow us to see historical stars as ButragueƱo, Sanchis, Buyo, Martin Vazquez, Fernando Redondo and Santillana. The match with the old glories of Manchester United has an added incentive because it will allow us to enjoy some players of the team of Glasgow, which won the last Champions League that has been dyed white: the Ninth.

Zidane, Figo, Roberto Carlos, Morientes, Helguera and Fernando Hierro. The six are cited for the match on Sunday. Only five players from the starting lineup that beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 will miss the match: Cesar (has played this season for Villarreal), Salgado (Blackburn), Solari (has approved the first part of coaching course and is a columnist for a Spanish daily), Makelele (assistant of Ancelotti in PSG) and Raul, who just signed by Al Sadd and will not play the Classic Match until he hangs up the boots.

Heart Classic Match will have another surprise on the field. Pierluigi Collina will be in charge of leading the match. The Italian referee, retired (left the competition in 2005), currently holds the post of head of UEFA's arbitration. Icon both on and off the field, was named by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), the best referee in the last quarter century (1987-2011).