Bayern Munich legend Ze Roberto has admitted that poor sleep, a lack of professional preparation, and excessive gaming led to his failed stint at Real Madrid during the late 1990s.
Ze Roberto recently opened up about his unsuccessful 1997-98 season at Real Madrid, citing a lack of maturity.
The Brazilian icon, who later became a Bundesliga legend, admitted he struggled with the elite standards in Spain.
“I failed at Real Madrid because I played PlayStation until the early morning, ate badly and slept very little,” he revealed, noting he lacked the psychological preparation required for such a move.
The former midfielder also highlighted the cultural and physical gap he experienced at the Bernabeu. He struggled with the dressing room’s formal atmosphere and the high intensity of the games.
“The intensity at Real Madrid was different and I couldn’t keep up with the pace,” he confessed.
Consequently, Ze Roberto gained weight and lost form, marking the only period in his career where he felt physically unfit.