Fabio Capello isn't holding back in his retirement. The legendary Italian manager, who hung up his clipboard in 2018, just delivered some spicy opinions about Cristiano Ronaldo and the current state of Real Madrid.
Speaking on Egyptian channel ON Sport's 'Hat-Trick' programme, Capello acknowledged Ronaldo's incredible talent. But he drew a clear line when comparing him to the absolute greats. "Cristiano is a great goalscorer and an incredible athlete, but he does not have the genius of Messi, Maradona or Ronaldo Nazario," Capello said bluntly.
"That genius that the others had is absent in Cristiano. You can't compare him with those three," the former England and Russia boss added. It's a hot take that'll have fans debating for weeks.
Real Madrid's Leadership Crisis
Capello didn't stop there. He turned his attention to Real Madrid's current problems, and the diagnosis isn't pretty. He pointed to the moment when Kylianppe asked his teammates not to give Barcelona a guard of honor after losing the Spanish Super Cup.
"That means that the coach no longer has power or leadership," Capello stated. For those following Madrid's odds this season, these internal issues could explain some inconsistent performances. A divided dressing room rarely translates to reliable results on the pitch.
The Italian also had concerns about Jude Bellingham's current situation. "With Ancelotti he had more freedom of movement. Now it seems that he has his wings clipped, he is stagnant," Capello observed. Bellingham's reduced influence could impact Madrid's attacking output in crucial matches.
Barcelona's Offside Trap Problem
Capello praised Barcelona's "beautiful and very entertaining football" but identified a potential weakness. "Barca's weakness is their constant reliance on offside. Sometimes, by a few centimeters, you find the opponent alone in front of the goal," he explained.
The veteran coach also shared a fascinating story from his Real Madrid days. He called Ronaldo Nazario "a negative leader who organized huge parties and did not want to train." It's a reminder that managing superstar egos has always been football's toughest challenge.
These insights from Capello paint a picture of two Spanish giants with very different problems heading into the business end of the season.
