Ronaldo Nazário, the Brazilian legend, left Real Madrid in the 2006-2007 season then transferred to AC Milan in January 2007. But the controversies surrounding his departure pointed to several injuries, a decline in form, which affected his playing time. Today, Fabio Capello, the coach of Madrid at the time sheds light on the incident.
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Troubles at Madrid
During the 2006-2007 season, Capello found himself at the helm of Real Madrid, facing challenges with one of the club’s biggest stars, Ronaldo Nazario. Ronaldo’s penchant for partying and his influence on the team’s social activities became a concern. Capello remembered an incident when Ruud van Nistelrooy approached him, complaining of the unmistakable scent of alcohol permeating the locker room. Ronaldo’s weight gain from 82 kg during the 2002 World Cup to 94 kg that year added to the issues.
Capello went further to reveal that he had advised against Milan signing Ronaldo, citing his reputation as a party animal who was primarily interested in the company of women. Despite his counsel, Milan still secured Ronaldo’s signature, disregarding his words of caution.9
The Italian manager also took aim at the Spanish press, emphasizing the importance of understanding the media landscape when working in Spain, where radio stations held significant influence and newspapers played a pivotal role in shaping public opinion.
Capello’s most inspiring moment during his time at Real Madrid came during a crucial match against Mallorca. The team was down 1-0 at half-time, needing a win to secure the league title. Capello opted for a different approach, gathering the players on the floor during the break and delivering a motivational speech. His words had the desired effect, and Real Madrid emerged victorious with a 3-1 scoreline, clinching the Spanish league title.
“Berlusconi called me asking my advice on signing Ronaldo.
I told him not to do it, that he just liked to party and only thought about women.
He told me 'ok thanks Fabio'. The next day I see the headline: Ronaldo to Milan."
🗣️ Fabio Capello on R9 to Milan 🔴⚫️😂 pic.twitter.com/t6cdwDZyc7
— Italian Football TV (@IFTVofficial) October 16, 2023
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