Ruud van Nistelrooy denies telling Fabio Capello Real Madrid dressing room smelt of alcohol because of Ronaldo
Ruud van Nistelrooy has denied a story that he once told manager Fabio Capello the Real Madrid dressing room smelt of alcohol because of Ronaldo.
Quotes attributed to Capello, who bossed the LaLiga giants in two spells, claimed the Brazil legend was the greatest player he ever coached, but his partying ways caused trouble at the same time.
"At the same time he was the one who created the most problems for me in the dressing room," he told Sky Sports Italia.
“He used to have parties. Once Van Nistelrooy said, ‘Sir, the locker room, it smells like alcohol’.
“Then when Ronaldo left, we started to win. But if we talk about talent, he was undoubtedly the greatest.”
Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or twice and scored 83 goals in 127 league appearances for Real Madrid in a five-year spell from 2002.
Van Nistelrooy played alongside him under Capello during the 2006/07 season, which saw Real Madrid win the title.
Despite ending Real Madrid’s four-year trophy drought, Capello was still sacked after just one season and replaced by Bernd Schuster.
But the Dutchman has ‘flatly' denied telling the Italian the dressing room reeked of booze.
Van Nistelrooy tweeted: “According to some statements attributed to Fabio Capello, pointing out that I, in his day, told him that the dressing room of @realmadrid ‘smelled of alcohol’.
“I want to flatly deny such claims. That team from the first day showed maximum professionalism.”
He added: “From the first to the last teammate we worked and defended the club's coat of arms in a comprehensive and professional manner.”