Former Real Madrid striker Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima has revealed which one of his numerous and iconic former teammates he found to be the worst during his illustrious playing career.
The legendary Brazilian forward was on the books at Real Madrid from 2002-2007. During his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, he made 177 appearances and scored 104 goals for Los Blancos. He also won the La Liga, Spanish Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup and Ballon d’Or crown while at the Spanish capital.
Ronaldo played alongside other legends of the game such as David Beckham, Zinadene Zidane and Raul at Madrid but the Brazilian remembers his experience with another teammate Thomas Gravesen, who became a Premier League cult hero during his five years at Merseyside club Everton.
Gravesen left Merseyside for Madrid in 2005 and the Danish midfielder enjoyed instant playing success at the Spanish capital. However, his tough style of play soon triggered public outcry and he soon fell out of favour.
Ronaldo was less than impressed with Gravesen’s footballing skills and character during their time together at Real, with the Brazilian even going as far as labelling the Dane ‘a joke’.
“There are a lot of them,” Ronaldo said when asked to identify his worst teammate. “There was one at Real Madrid who was a joke… Gravesen.
“He was a Danish midfielder. He was a really cool guy, good guy. A little while ago he won a $50million poker tournament or something. But in football he was very bad, he scored and he beat the hell out of people.”
Former Real Madrid manager Fabio Capello also echoed Ronaldo’s sentiments while recalling a training ground scuffle between Gravesen and Robinho which started after the Dane’s rough takle on the Brazilian.
“The way he is, we won’t have problems with him. He’s just a little bit peculiar. I don’t mess with him, he works well tactically. His behaviour is like this, and I don’t like it, everything has to be done like he wants it to be done”.
Olaoluwa is a dedicated sports writer and passionate football enthusiast with two years of experience. Known for his keen analysis and commitment to the game, his work reflects a deep love for football, blending strategic insight with the emotional moments that make it a global passion. He is focused on honing his skills and consistently aims to inspire and engage readers through every article he writes.
