🎮 Unusual reasons? Zé Roberto explains his flop at Real Madrid | OneFootball

Former player Zé Roberto spoke openly about his journey in football in an interview for Abre Aspas on ge.

With memorable stints at major clubs and the Brazilian National Team, he shared the highs and lows of a career that lasted until he was 43, highlighting an unusual explanation for his "flop" at the mighty Real Madrid.

Video game addiction

The start of his European journey was not as expected. Signed by Real Madrid at 21, newly married, Zé Roberto admits that a lack of maturity and video game addiction hindered him.

"The video game disrupted me a lot... One of my dreams... was to have a PlayStation. And we bought it... we would hang out all day and, at night, play video games," revealed the former player, explaining how the stress of trying to "beat" games like Crash Bandicoot led him to eat late at night and, consequently, lose physical shape. "This is something that distracts and unfocuses many athletes today," he reflects. His stint at the Spanish club lasted just over a year, with 21 matches played.

The turnaround and physical discipline

After returning to Brazil for a brief period at Flamengo, Zé Roberto went back to Europe, this time to Bayer Leverkusen in Germany.

This experience made him realize the importance of physical preparation. Later, at 35, back at Bayern Munich, he solidified his routine of body care, something he maintains to this day.

Regarding his discipline, he even dared to compare himself to Cristiano Ronaldo: "When I played, I think I was [more disciplined]. After I ended my career, I'm still a very regulated, disciplined guy."

Disappointments with the National Team and racism

Zé Roberto did not hide his sadness at missing the 2002 World Cup: "Was I upset? Of course, I didn't even watch the World Cup. I lived my mourning there."

He also recalled the elimination in the 2006 World Cup, stating that the Brazilian National Team was the favorite, but some players lacked physical preparation.

On racism in football, Zé Roberto was emphatic: "For me, racism is a cancer that they haven't found a cure for yet... It's repugnant to talk about racism in today's times and still not have severe punishment."

Life after football

At 51, Zé Roberto says he is in the "best phase of his life." Currently, he dedicates himself to giving motivational talks and acting as a mentor for young athletes, as well as inspiring his followers with his training routine on social media. "Being an inspiration is what motivates me the most. It brings purpose to me."

He also praised Neymar and believes in his potential for the 2026 World Cup: "In the last call-up, there is no player with Neymar's talent and quality. Now imagine him in good physical shape. There's no way not to call him up."

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

📸 PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU - 2004 AFP