As soon as he turned 16 - the legal age to do so - Julián López El Juli took the alternative in Nîmes but before that he had attracted everyone's attention since his first steps as a bullfighter for his outstanding intelligence, variety of luck and knowledge of the fight with Mexico. as a place of operations because there he fought up to seventy-seven bullfights with milestones such as the pardon of “Feligrés” in the very crowded Plaza México.
Now, 25 years after he became a bullfighter and a career in the rings (1852 bullfights, 4000 bulls...) that have led him to (almost) unanimous recognition as the leading figure in bullfighting, he says goodbye while the question of his future remains open. whether such a decision is final or not, something that is so common in the history of bullfighting, made up of comings and goings, retreats and returns. At the end of the day, a bullfighter is always a bullfighter, whether he cuts his ponytail or not.
Madrilenian as he is, he chose El Juli La Maestranza for the last one, after saying goodbye in triumph to Las Ventas the afternoon before. Because it took El Juli a world and many bulls fought there to win the hearts of the Madrid fans, to the point that his farewell was only the second big gate (the first, in 2007), to which he added the his farewell as a bullfighter.
Seville and La Maestranza, on the other hand, made El Juli their own, a reciprocal love (seven Puertas del Príncipe validate it numerically) that explains the ultimate choice. And today, under a summer sun in October, La Maestranza filled to the clock, stood up so that El Juli received, before and after the Paseíllo (with him, Sebastián Castella and Daniel Luque) a clamoring ovation that was testimony excited with gratitude and recognition.
The first of the afternoon, from Garcigrande (the same as third and fifth) scored a little good at the start without using either the capes or his passage on the horse. Arriving at the point of crutch, he ratified the above, without any fixity and lack of strength and El Juli had no choice but to take the sword, which did not work as it should, much less the madness.
All hopes were already pinned on “Saleroso”, the last bull from El Juli.
And the teacher who went to the pigsty door to receive him, to the surprise and admiration of everyone. The long changeover turned out to be perfect and with El Juli already standing and in the middle, verónicas and a very warm media arrived, the audience standing and the music playing. A third of rods with hardly any punishment and quite a bit for chicuelinas and a beautiful half Veronica as a finishing touch.
To the audience of La Maestranza the toast, the thunderous applause, all emotion and “Sighs of Spain” plays while a few tears escape down the cheeks.
The bull did not have enough strength, quite the opposite, and El Juli used his teaching and resources to build a task in which he alternated one piton and another (preferably the left one), with some high-pitched natural series. Quick effect thrust and the bull at his feet. As at his feet the bullfighting, because beyond tastes - here one is here one), a bullfighter leaves who for a quarter of a century has been an example of commitment to bullfighting. He only cut off one ear, the bull couldn't do any more , But that was not important. And upon returning to the arena that is not such as La Maestranza, Julián López El Juii, with a smile that was a grimace of emotion, received everyone's recognition. He is also sure, some there, others in the geographical distance, of the Catalan fans who enjoyed it so many times in La Monumental now closed to bullfighting: nineteen large doors attest to it.
The second (from Domingo Hernández's iron, as fourth and sixth) was received by Sebastián Castella, who the previous afternoon opened the Puerta del Príncipe and entered today's lineup replacing the injured Morante de la Puebla, with warm and very cheery verónicas kneeling in the third. And the bull responded to the challenge, even better in the removal of Daniel Luque with three durse veronicas and a beautiful stocking. He gave Castella to El Juli and opened the fight by passing the attacks from behind. Noble bull and first round rounds linked and reunited, which were better when he took the left, but he only lasted one series before breaking down and seeking the refuge of the boards. And there, the thrust.
Castella also went to the pigsty door to receive the fifth man at the pigsty door, but the people had not yet recovered from so many emotions experienced with El Juli, and they hardly paid attention to him. They are the things of life, they are the things of love.
Feeling of depression that followed in Castella's muleta task, in good tone but lacking emotion because the condition of the bull, dull to the point of saying enough, did not allow it.
Daniel Luque, who is suffering from a complicated injury that forced him to miss several games, did not want to miss the appointment with Seville. His first one did not allow him to show off with the cape, he saved in a couple of tempest Veronicas by the right piton. He was always beaten on the left and Iván García played it with banderillas. Luque also offered El Juli. The beginning of the task, trench, change of hand, trench and superb chest pass made the Music Band start. With the Gerena bullfighter positioned at the precise distance and terrain, he unleashed warm and long round muletazos, managing timing and heights to perfection. He changed hands and it turned out that what was a problematic left python turned into long, bossy naturals finished with a cathedral chest pass. Without the sword of help, the copyrighted luquesinas arrived, prior to a sudden blow with a devastating effect. The two ears rewarded the work, a prodigy of technique, knowledge, flavor and bullfighter knowledge. And the Prince's Gate ajar.
The sixth came out, as fair in appearance as he was in caste, and the gesture of many was darkened, Luque's the first. The third of rods lasted forever and gave more argument to the irritation. He offered Luque to Paco Ojeda, in a burladero in the alley and it turned out that what seemed like a pipe dream began to become reality. Luque led the attacks with series in a round of command in the square, his figure relaxed, the embroque perfect, the line long. Naturally the same treatment but worse response from the animal. Luque took the bull in the middle for supreme luck, the ear was there, it's a pity that the thrust went down and the lock of the Prince's Gate could not be opened. But what's done is done.
El Juli made his last walk in reverse, he left La Maestranza and the bullfight between ovations, but with the discretion of those who are truly great.
