Miami Dolphins receiver returns to Madrid stadium to meet legend who sparked his NFL dream

For Malik Washington, wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins, the Metropolitano Stadium isn’t just another venue. Among all the players on the Florida team, who will face the Washington Commanders this Sunday at the Bernabéu in the first-ever NFL game in Spain, none has a connection quite like his.

Why? Because it was there that his name was called in last year’s NFL Draft. The league had chosen the Madrid arena as one of its international outposts in its ongoing bid to expand beyond the United States. In that edition of the draft – where college prospects learn which franchise will shape their professional future – one of the Dolphins’ picks was announced by the president of the team’s official fan club in Spain.

In Washington’s case, the honor went to Fernando Torres, the Atlético Madrid legend, who revealed that the Miami franchise was selecting him with the 184th overall pick, in the sixth round. At the time, it seemed like a one-off story. But fate had other plans.

This Thursday, as the Dolphins trained at the Metropolitano – their base of operations for the week – Washington and Torres finally met in person. The two exchanged jerseys, posed for photos, and shared the moment on social media, sealing an unexpected bond born from an unlikely draft-day twist.

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