Wesley Sneijder (foto: Getty Images)
Wesley Sneijder reflects on his most humiliating day in football when he was forced out of Real Madrid, feeling disrespected and discarded by the club.
All players who leave Real Madrid do so with a heavy heart. Some have done it in an inglorious way, and not by their own fault. This is the case with a player who was once considered the best in the world and, according to many, was robbed in front of the whole world.
Real Madrid has been one of the best clubs in the world for years, and it is the dream of most footballers to one day wear the famous Los Blancos jersey. For this reason, the phrase that leaving the Kings is the hardest decision in a career is not in vain.
However, one footballer was forced to do it. And not by his own fault. According to his testimony, they got rid of him in a brutal way because they thought he didn't fit into their plans.
Wesley Sneijder was supposed to be one of the glamorous signings of then-Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon. He was brought from Ajax for a whopping 27 million euros at the time. It was 2007.
The Dutchman left the Bernabeu two years later and moved to Inter. As he himself recounted, leaving Real was the hardest day of his life.
"The worst moment of my career was related to my departure from Real Madrid. I felt humiliated. I went to training, and when I arrived, I found an empty locker and all my things on the side. I went to talk to President Calderon. He didn't give me much time and just told me that I no longer fit into their plans and that they wanted to win the Champions League.
Before I left his office, I told him, 'Sir, know that wherever I go, I will play to win.'
Two days later, Mourinho called me. I think he got my number from Chivu. I didn't know him personally before. He said to me, 'Wesley, I know your situation there is tough. Come to Inter, and together we will win everything.'
With Mourinho, it was love at first sight. He assured me that I was one of the most important players in his team and that we would win the Champions League together.
Maybe he did that with everyone, but believe me, one year with him is worth ten years with anyone else.
How did it end? You know... I won the Champions League in their stadium. I placed the trophy in front of my locker and said, 'I always keep my promises.' It was the best moment of my career," recounted the Dutchman.
Sneijder spoke about the events of 2010 when he won the Treble with Inter and reached the World Cup final with the Netherlands.
Because of everything he did that year, many believed Sneijder should have won the Ballon d'Or, which ultimately went to Leo Messi, who hadn't won anything. The Dutchman wasn't even in the Top 3, with Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta completing the podium.
After that, Sneijder continued to play for Galatasaray. He has been retired for some time and is out of shape due to evident weight gain, much to the dismay of his fans. He mainly works as a guest commentator on various Dutch TV stations.