Ramon Calderon, the former president of Real Madrid, has slammed manager Carlo Ancelotti and forward Gareth Bale, claiming the are too weak to succeed in the Spanish capital.
Calderon, who was ousted by bitter rival Florentino Perez as president, said the pair do not have strong personalities to make a long lasting impression at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Speaking to Italian website Tuttosport, Calderon said former Tottenham man Bale, who was signed for a 91 million euro fee in the summer, is nowhere near the level of Cristiano Ronaldo, He went on to claim Ancelotti’s tactics are confusing and the team has no identity this season.
“Bale seems to me like the opposite of what ‘The Lion King’ Ronaldo stands for,” Calderon said. He went on to state Bale seems to be “psychologically fragile” and someone who suffers under pressure. “To play for Real, you must have nerves of steel. The pressure is bigger than at any other club in the world,” he is quoted as saying.
Calderon then moved onto the subject of Ancelotti, who was brought to the club to replace Jose Mourinho. Despite having a glittering career in Italy, England and France, Calderon said the Italian manager lacked character.
“It seems to me that Ancelotti does not have the personality and charisma to lead Real Madrid. The team have yet to play a defined, organised and homogeneous football and they concede too many goals. Among other things, I was surprised when they told me that in the summer he turned just 54. I saw him already close to retirement,” he said.
