Kosovare Asllani criticises 'unhealthy & dangerous environment' at Real Madrid
By Ali Rampling
Kosovare Asllani has criticised the culture at Real Madrid following her departure from the club, branding it a 'very unhealthy and dangerous environment for players to be in'.
Asllani joined CD Tacon in 2019, just prior to the club's acquisition and rebrand to Real Madrid in July 2020, becoming the maiden marquee signing of the Spanish giants' women's team.
However, the Sweden international will depart following the expiration of her contract this summer. Speaking to the media ahead of her country's Euro 2022 campaign, she spoke of a culture where players were pushed to play when injured and coaches failed to listen to medical staff.
"I think it is a culture in the club, which is unhealthy for players to be in, which I myself have been in, where I have almost been forced to play injured and did not receive help," Asllani said.
"The management team has not listened to the medical team and, in the end, it was a decision that I had to make to have a longer career. It has become a very unhealthy and dangerous environment for players to be in.
"I think I have done a lot for the club from the beginning and then I have seen that the club has not treated players well during all these years. I think it’s important for me to talk, since no one else has. I have tried to make changes, but in the end, the environment created there is one where they refuse to listen to the medical team and the players.
"It is no coincidence that I was injured over there and had a setback, as you are constantly pushed to play injured or sick. It is not a healthy environment. I care an incredible amount about the club, but I feel that it is in the wrong hands."
Asllani helped Real to a second place finish behind Barcelona during the 2020/21 season - the club's maiden campaign following their rebrand - but saw her 2021/22 season disrupted by injury, as Real finished third.
"I do not think it is the only club where coaches over run the medical team," she added. "I think it’s an environment created by just wanting results and seeing players as products. It does not matter if someone is injured. I have not been in an environment where I have been pushed as much to play injured as there. That’s why I’ve been there (injured) for most of the season.
"It has been going on during all three years I’ve been there and, looking back on it, I probably should have left last summer, but I wanted to give them one more chance."