Those tears from October 12, 2025, in Madrid, the bullfighter’s and those of many fans, are already withered but not forgotten. What happened that afternoon was an event that remains in memory forever, a vivid blow to the heart, overwhelmed by a feeling as strong as it was unexpected.
No one, perhaps not even Morante himself, knew that after the slow and clamorous lap of honor, overflowing with emotion and sincere affection, the bullfighter would move to the center of the ring and, with a dazed head and glassy eyes, would let go of his ponytail as a sign of farewell that left the entire arena silent and disoriented.
Morante retired to the edge of the ring crying, and many cried, unable to digest such a shocking separation at that moment.
And the bullfighting festival was left with a question mark in the face of the seismic movement that the retirement of the most important bullfighter of the moment represented, an unparalleled artist, a genius, it is said and it will be true, and also human, unable to bear the pressure of himself, his mental illness, and the effort that must be involved in wearing the suit of lights every afternoon.
But Joselito el Gallo died and bullfighting went on. It would continue without Morante as well, although his absence caused a headache for the promoters.
But the tears, sincere without a doubt, carried more water than commotion; at least the bullfighter’s. Morante soon recovered his spirits (“I don’t know how to do anything else,” he confessed in a meeting with friends) and two visits from the Seville promoter were enough to change his mind, put the ponytail back in place, and announce himself with all honors at the April Fair.
And Seville, which is as it is, welcomed him with open arms, with the excessive affection that only Sevillians know how to express. Let bygones be bygones… Morante is ours… “But Madrid deserves respect, and no matter what Rafael [García Garrido, promoter of Las Ventas] tells me, this year I should not return to that ring,” the bullfighter revealed at that same meeting.
But either the bullfighting promoters are specialists in the art of persuasion, or Morante has a fragile spirit. It is unknown, it will never be known, how many zeros Garrido’s reasons have, but they are enough for Morante to dry his tears and step back into the Las Ventas ring as if nothing had happened.
But it has happened. Of course it has. The artist played with the feelings of his admirers, did not take into account the scope of his decision, and now, after a year, returns with a smile, and will surely expect to be received with cheers.
And so it will be — hopefully it will be — because Morante is necessary, he is the salt of the festival, the only ingredient that makes it possible to forget disappointments.
Without a doubt, Morante’s tears, those tears from last year, eclipse the feeling of anger caused by deception.
That is the luck of geniuses, who come and go, disappoint and are received like the prodigal son, and can afford whims that no one else would forgive.
Morante returns on October 12 to Las Ventas as the protagonist of the Autumn Fair. Behind are his farewell from the rings, his tears, and ours.
May it be for the best; it is the only thing we have left.
But hopefully he receives what he deserves: that no one but him sheds tears the next time he retires. Because tears wither, but are not forgotten.
