Itziar Gonzalez, a sports nutritionist, has made serious allegations against Real Madrid, claiming she endured a harrowing experience while working with the club. In an exclusive interview with Marca, Gonzalez detailed her tumultuous time at Real Madrid, where she was brought in at the personal request of club president Florentino PĂ©rez during the 2021-22 season. Despite her expertise and previous setbacks with other teams, she initially hesitated to join. “The club insisted on my hiring due to the president’s directive. I was met with resistance from many players, with only Rodrygo and Carvajal willing to collaborate with me,” she stated.
Gonzalez revealed that while some players expressed interest in her services, the medical staff discouraged them from working with her. “As the season concluded, I heard nothing from the club until November 2023 when they contacted me to assist Carvajal and GĂĽler for the ongoing season. However, the medical team continued to undermine my efforts, telling players not to heed my advice,” she recounted.
A Hostile Work Environment
In October 2024, after a series of injuries, Carvajal reached out again for Gonzalez’s expertise. Following this, PĂ©rez requested that she oversee the nutrition for all Real Madrid players personally. “I hold immense respect for Florentino PĂ©rez and accepted this role with the hope of making him proud,” she explained. Unfortunately, her enthusiasm was met with hostility from the existing medical staff. “From day one, they created a toxic atmosphere. They made it clear that my presence was merely a whim of the president and that they intended to manipulate him into believing I was unfit for the role,” Gonzalez shared.
Resignation and Legal Action
The nutritionist described being isolated within the club’s structure. “They refused to acknowledge me; there were no introductions or greetings, and my messages went unanswered.” After facing continuous challenges and feeling unwelcome, Gonzalez decided to resign but was met with refusal from the club. “During my first week, I felt physically unsafe entering Valdebebas due to their behavior,” she lamented.
Gonzalez has now taken legal action against Real Madrid as she seeks justice for her ordeal. Her experience raises significant questions about workplace dynamics within elite sports organizations and how they manage external professionals brought in to enhance player performance.
As this situation unfolds, it highlights not only the challenges faced by support staff in high-pressure environments but also the critical need for cohesive collaboration among all team members for optimal performance.
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