FORMER England manager Fabio Capello claims that Real Madrid’s dressing room used to “smell like alcohol.”
And he also opened up over Ronaldo Nazario’s issues with weight, claiming the legendary Brazilian tipped the scales at almost 15 stone during his final days at the Bernabeu.
PAFabio Capello claims Real Madrid’s dressing room used to ‘smell like alcohol’[/caption]
Capello says Ruud van Nistelrooy made the remark, a claim the Dutchman categorically deniesGetty
Capello, 77, returned to Real Madrid in 2006, almost a decade after his first spell which resulted in a league title.
The Italian quickly stamped his mark on the squad of Galacticos, employing a defensive formation while dropping star names like David Beckham and Antonio Cassano.
Brazil legend Ronaldo also fell foul of Capello’s tough new rules thanks to his partying lifestyle.
The striker was immediately out of the XI when Capello made Man United icon Ruud van Nistelrooy one of his first signings.
And the decision appeared to be justified as Real ended a barren run to win the title later that season.
It’s now been claimed Ronaldo weighed in at nearly 15 stone, having been under 13 stone when he led Brazil to World Cup glory in 2002.
Capello says he decided to sell Ronaldo to AC Milan after six months when the hitman struggled to lose weight.
And the Italian also claims Van Nistelrooy complained to him about Real Madrid’s dressing room, saying that it “smelled like alcohol.”
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS AND BONUSES NEW CUSTOMERS
Capello says Ronaldo Nazario weighed almost 15 stone when he was sold to Milan in 2007AFP
Capello said, via Marca: “In February 2007 I decided to fire Ronaldo Nazario, he was someone who liked to party and involve the group.
“One day Ruud van Nistelrooy arrived and told me: ‘Sir, it smells like alcohol here in the locker room’. It was true.
“Ronaldo weighed 94 kilos that year. In Korea at the 2002 World Cup, he weighed 82. I told him to lose weight… he reached 92.5.”
Van Nistelrooy categorically denies Capello’s claims.
He tweeted: “Based on statements attributed to Fabio Capello, pointing out that I, at the time, told him that the Real Madrid locker room ‘smelled of alcohol’, I want to categorically deny such statements.
“That locker room demonstrated maximum professionalism from day one.”
On sealing Ronaldo’s move to AC Milan, Capello added: “Silvio Berlusconi called me one day to ask for advice on a hypothetical purchase (of Ronaldo).
“I advised him against it, telling him he was a party who only thought about women.
“He (Berlusconi) told me ‘Ok, thanks Fabio’. The next day Ronaldo is in Milan.”