Ronaldo Nazário is back in the spotlight, not for his goals, but for his humorous recollection of one of the most controversial coaching spells in Real Madrid’s history. In a recently resurfaced interview on the Charla Podcast, the Brazilian legend revisited Vanderlei Luxemburgo’s short and turbulent tenure at the club and, in typical Ronaldo fashion, turned the story into an unforgettable anecdote.

“Vanderlei was very good, a really good coach. His staff were excellent, above average,” Ronaldo began, before delivering the punchline: “But he had a group management problem. He always had it. And that problem… was me.”

Ronaldo did not hesitate to explain why Luxemburgo ultimately lost his job. According to the former striker, the coach repeatedly substituted him during matches, something that did not sit well with the club’s hierarchy. “He was fired because he took me off in every game. The president spoke to him and said, ‘Everyone who comes to the Bernabéu comes to see Ronaldo, and you keep taking him off.’ Vanderlei replied, ‘With all due respect, Mr. President, I’m the coach and I make the decisions.’”

Ronaldo laughed as he recalled what came next: “Then the president said, ‘Alright, go to HR.’”

The stories did not end there. Ronaldo also remembered a bizarre episode from Luxemburgo’s very first match in charge, against Real Sociedad in January 2005. The game was suspended after just eight minutes due to a bomb threat at the Santiago Bernabéu, but even amid the chaos, the tension between coach and player was evident.

“The match starts, I win a penalty, I’m taken off on a stretcher, Zidane scores. I come back onto the pitch, and as soon as I return, he substitutes me again. A minute and a half into the game.”

It is one of those tales that perfectly encapsulates Ronaldo’s career at Real Madrid: extraordinary talent, a dose of chaos, and stories that continue to spark laughter and debate years later.

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