“The Champion” is a Spanish sports movie directed by Carlos Therón available to watch on Netflix.
Cast And Characters
- Swit Eme as Diego-Diego is a young football player for Atlético de Madrid, also known for his hot temper and impulsive nature.
- Dani Rovira as Alejandro or Alex-Alex is a psychology professor appointed to improve Diego’s behaviour.
- Pablo Chiapella as Tito-Tito is Diego’s father and manager.
- Luis Fernández as Juanma- Juanma is Alex’s brother who appointed Alex as Diego’s teacher.
- Cintia García as Ceci- Ceci is Diego’s girlfriend.
Plot Summary
The film is about a hot-headed uprising football star who had everything right and a successful life ahead of him until he got himself into a fight with one of his team members and was suspended for two games. Alex, a psychology professor, was appointed for Diego to help him with his impulsive nature and help him face his fears.
Why Was Diego Banned?
Diego is a bright football player who joined Atlético de Madrid at the very young age of 18. But with only three matches left in the La Liga season, he got himself into a controversy when the video of him punching the team’s captain went viral. The Football Federation gave him a two-match ban, and they are contemplating whether Diego should be banned for the third match or not. But Diego does not regret his act and is seen enjoying himself with his friends by the poolside. He cannot find a reason to apologise in front of the media because he is the season’s top scorer.
How Did Juanma Appoint Alex As Diego’s Teacher?
Juanma was the one who came up with the idea of appointing his brother and renowned psychology professor as a personal teacher for Diego. So he met up with his socially anxious brother to talk with him. Juanma knew the only way he could make Alex for him was to pay him enough money to save their mother’s house. Alex hesitated at first but in the end he agreed to the mutual terms. Juanma brought Alex to the media conference where he first met Diego and was introduced to the world as Diego’s teacher. The next day, when Alex was brought to sit with Diego for an interview shoot, he left because of his social anxiety and asks Juanma to send Alex to his house for classes with no cameras, no mobiles and absolutely no paparazzis.
How Did Diego’s First Lesson With Alex go?
Alex gives a condition to Juanma to send Diego to his house for their lessons. In their first class, Alex asks Diego to recite lines from a book which will help him with his vocabulary. But seeing Diego having problems reading Spanish books, Alex concludes that Diego suffers from dyslexia. Alex tries to encourage Diego and says that dyslexia does get better with cognitive training and that he should not be ashamed of his problems. But the lesson was cut short when young kids came to play football with Diego.
Did Diego Go To Attend Alex’s Class at the University?
After spending a night at Diego’s, he decided to drop Alex off at his university and even secretly came to his class. In Alex’s homework, Diego writes down five new words he has never heard before while sitting in Alex’s class. But his disguise was soon caught when his phone started to ring in between the class. Being almost buried under fans, both of them escaped in Diego’s car.
How Did Diego And Alex Start To Bond?
After leaving the university, Diego throws his phone away, ignores the schedule made by his father, and spends the entire day together talking about various sorts of things about life and their different views. At night, when they went to a club, Diego witnessed Alex having an episode of panic attack when he felt himself alone in a swarm of people. After fighting with a few people in the club, they went to the home stadium of Atlético de Madrid and slowly Alex opened up to Diego about why he didn’t like football and why he never goes to watch a game. Diego shared with Alex how and why he wanted to play football. Diego made Alex promise that he would have to come to watch him play and Diego would score a goal for him. And the next day both of them along with Ceci went to Diego’s town to play a friendly football match against his father’s wish.
What Happened At Diego’s Comeback Party?
Tito, Diego’s father, did not like that Diego was spending more time with the professor and was neglecting his training, so he threatened to discontinue his classes. That day, Diego is permitted to play the third game, but his father does not allow Alex to meet Diego. At night during his comeback party, Alex tries to enter the venue without permission to talk to Diego. On the other hand, Tito and Juanma sold Diego to Manchester City without him knowing. Juanma asks Alex to leave him alone to let him focus on his football. Diego saw Alex leave and when he asked about the reason behind his discontinuation of classes Alex could not bring himself to tell the truth, which could make him lose his focus on the upcoming game.
Did Diego Play The Last Match?
After seeing Alex leave without giving any answer, Diego ends up hurting his ankle. Tito asks him not to play the last match because it could make his injury worse, and they can’t afford to risk his entire career for one game. On the other hand, Ceci goes to visit Alex and gives him the envelope Diego left for him, which contains a ticket to his game. Alex musters up enough courage to go to watch the game without worrying about his past traumas. Diego could see his team losing but could not say anything because of his father. Alex started screaming ‘Hey’ to get Diego’s attention and let him know he had kept his promise to come to the game, which also made Diego change his decision and express his desire to go on the field. Alex even revealed that he was being sold off to Manchester City and the entire crowd started screaming “Diego’s not for sale.” Diego decides to take the injection which will soothe his pain for some time, which angers his father even more.
The Champion Ending Explained
Diego went onto the field against his father’s choice for the first time because Alex taught him to make his own life decisions while the entire crowd started cheering for Diego. Diego’s father was in a furious mood and wanted Diego to stop playing because, according to him, Manchester City would not like to have a cripple player. Diego ends up scoring a goal for his team, keeping the promise he made to Alex.
