Fabio Capello retired from coaching in 2018, but has added experience and continues to analyze the world of football. He has no qualms about voicing his opinion, no matter who the main character is.
This is the case with Cristiano Ronaldo, whom Capello admits is very talented, but not quite up to par with the players he considers to be the best. “Cristiano is a great goalscorer and an incredible athlete, but he doesn’t have the genius of Messi, Maradona or Ronaldo Nazario,” the Italian said on Egyptian channel ON Sport’s “Hat Trick” program.
“Cristiano lacks that genius that the other players had. You can’t compare him with those three,” Capello said, also praising Barça’s “beautiful and very interesting football.” However, he also talked about their “flaws”: “Barça’s weakness is that they always rely on offside. Sometimes a few centimeters away can leave the opponent alone in front of goal.”
Ronaldo Nazario was a reluctant leader who hosted large parties and didn’t want to train.
Capello also talked about the players’ egos and personalities. With a wealth of experience managing the dressing rooms of great footballers, he recalled the “problems” he had at Real Madrid. “Ronaldo Nazario was a reluctant leader who organized big parties and didn’t want to train.”
He believes there are similar problems at Real Madrid today, with Mbappé asking his team-mates not to stand in a guard of honor against Barcelona after losing in the Spanish Super Cup. “It means the manager no longer has the power and no leadership.”
Speaking about Bellingham’s current lack of prominence in the Madrid team, he added: “Under Ancelotti he was able to move more freely. Now he seems to have had his wings ripped off and is stagnant.”
