Former Brazilian international Zé Roberto has candidly reflected on his unsuccessful spell at Real Madrid. The former midfielder admitted that his lack of preparation and certain bad habits largely contributed to his failure at the Madrid club.

In an interview with Globo Esporte, the former player explained that he wasn't ready to face the high standards of such a prestigious club. According to him, the intensity of the work and the professionalism within the team quickly overwhelmed him. He particularly remembers his arrival in the Madrid dressing room, where the contrast with his teammates was striking. While most were dressed elegantly, he presented himself simply, which, incidentally, prompted a few jokes from Roberto Carlos.

But Zé Roberto admits that the main problem stemmed from his lifestyle at the time. Young and recently married, he had become passionate about video games, especially the PlayStation. He spent a large part of his nights playing, which had direct consequences on his physical condition. Lack of sleep, poor diet, and decreased performance on the field eventually affected his abilities, to the point that he gained weight and lost effectiveness.

Looking back, the former Brazilian international says that this experience taught him a valuable lesson. Aware that football was becoming increasingly physically demanding, he decided to radically change his lifestyle and invest more in his training.

This realization allowed him to relaunch his career. After returning to Brazil, notably to Santos, he rediscovered his best form before embarking on a long and brilliant career in Europe, particularly at Bayern Munich. According to him, these choices were crucial in extending his career at the highest level for many years.