José María Gutiérrez, known to fans as Guti, has always captivated attention both for his undeniable talent on the field and his lifestyle beyond it. With 15 titles and 542 appearances for Real Madrid, many have speculated that his potential could have taken him even further with a more regimented approach. In an interview with GQ, Guti addresses these perceptions openly: "Yes, I enjoyed going out at night, but I never did it the day before a match. Football was crucial to me, but I didn’t want it to be my entire life. I wanted to meet people and experience life beyond the sport," he explains.

He admits he wasn’t one for the gym culture either: "I can’t confirm if Cristiano was at the gym at 6:30 a.m. because I wasn’t there at that hour," he laughs. Reflecting on Cristiano Ronaldo’s influence, Guti notes, "Cristiano changed the team’s dynamics. Before him, some players would go to the gym, but with him, it became a necessity, part of taking care of oneself. Now, image matters—players are more visible on social media and need to keep up."

Guti also touched on the evolving culture in football, especially regarding the treatment of players. "I think it’s fantastic that players are better protected now. Football has to evolve, which means ending behaviors that were once normalized but were never okay. Players who feel uncomfortable or harassed should speak out; it’ll only make the sport better," he adds.

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