Italian coach Fabio Capello revealed that he felt “proud” following he decided to sell Brazilian Ronaldo in 2007, when he was the first at the helm of the technical leadership of Real Madrid.
The two-time Golden Ball winner spent 4 years with the Spanish capital team, before Capello took charge in the summer of 2006, but his presence with the coach did not last long and he left for Milan, Italy, months following Capello arrived.
Capello said in statements to the Portuguese newspaper “A BOLA”: Taking over the task of coaching Real Madrid, during my second term, the decision to sell Ronaldo and sign Cassano contributed to increasing the competitive spirit of the team.
He continued, “We compensated for the 9-point deficit behind Barcelona with 10 games left in the season, I am still proud until now.”
And he added: I remember when Silvio Berlusconi (president of Milan) called me to ask regarding Ronaldo’s condition, I told him that he does not make an effort in training and that he is fond of parties and women, the next day I saw the newspaper headline: Ronaldo in Milan, it was funny.
The Brazilian international scored 83 goals in 127 matches in the Spanish League, before he moved to Milan in January of 2007 for 8 million euros, and defended the red and black shirt in 20 games, during which he scored 9 goals and made 5 others.