One more year, journalist Tomás Roncero has once again kept the tradition of publishing his predictions for the season.
He does so with the same confidence and conviction as always, but with a recent track record that calls for caution... or laughter. On social media, fans haven't taken long to point out the inconsistencies and contradictions in his list for this season.
The leading talk show host for Madridism has ventured to predict which team will be the revelation, who will be the most valuable player, and who will be the disappointment of the championship.
The curious thing, and the reason for widespread mockery, is that in his particular oracle, the LaLiga MVP could also end up being, paradoxically, the biggest disappointment. For Roncero, the LaLiga MVP will be the referees, precisely those who for many are Madrid's MVP.
The past haunts him
The archives are cruel to Roncero. It's enough to recall the Qatar 2022 World Cup, where he didn't get a single one right. His predictions about the finalists, the champion, and the stars of the tournament were proven wrong in record time.
That episode was just an appetizer for what would come next, especially last season.
The previous summer, the journalist didn't hesitate to claim that Real Madrid was in a position to achieve the septet. Reality was quite different: Los Blancos only won two single-match tournaments, one of them against Pachuca.
Social media are relentless
If there's one thing that characterizes social media, it's their ability to archive and retrieve past statements. With Roncero, there's plenty of material.
Users haven't missed the chance to point out that his predictions are as reliable as a fairground rifle. Some have even put together compilation videos of his most notorious blunders.
The contradiction of choosing as the disappointment a player who will be the best of the championship has become the joke of the day.
Ironic comments, memes, and edits have flooded X and Instagram, reinforcing that image that his predictions are more about entertainment than rigorous analysis.
Of course, for Roncero, Real Madrid will win La Liga and the Champions League and Barça nothing. Just like last year, just like always.
A classic that never fails...
Despite his continuous mistakes, Roncero remains faithful to his annual appointment. Perhaps that's where part of his media charm lies. His followers, and also his detractors, wait every year for the moment to discover what new combination of risky predictions and improbable twists he'll leave us with.
The journalist, far from being annoyed by the criticism, usually takes the review of his mistakes with humor. He knows that, deep down, his predictions are part of the spectacle that surrounds soccer. As the reactions show, his words never go unnoticed.
One of his most famous statements came as a reaction to Mbappé's refusal to sign for Real Madrid a few years ago.
He then said: "This kid doesn't know how great Real Madrid is. Not even coming on his knees from Paris or paying €100 million out of his own pocket would I allow him to ever wear our sacred jersey.
Simply delightful. Not even Groucho Marx did it better when he said: "Ma'am, I have my principles, but if you don't like them, I have others."
Like Tomás Roncero.
Without Mbappé we've won 14 European Cups. Kylian, your turn has passed, kid..."