Former Real Madrid nutritionist Itziar González de Arriba has made high profile accusations against the Spanish club, claiming pressure, humiliation, and effective exclusion from her duties by the medical department.
According to Idman.Biz, González made the statements in an interview with Spanish outlet Marca, speaking publicly for the first time since her dismissal while legal proceedings are ongoing.
González said her cooperation with Real Madrid began at the initiative of the club’s president. She was invited at a time when the team was facing serious problems with muscle injuries. The specialist had previously worked with Dani Carvajal and Rodrygo, who, according to her, managed to overcome chronic injury issues. However, González claims that her arrival was met with strong resistance from the club’s medical staff, which led to what she described as an “unbearable working environment”.
Itziar stated that from the very first days she faced being ignored, banned from communicating with players, and even accused of stealing sports supplements, allegations that were later proven false. She said she was not allowed to fully carry out her duties despite direct instructions from the president to implement her nutrition methods, oversee the team’s diet, supplements, and provide individual nutrition plans for players.
González also claimed that the club prevented her from working at the Valdebebas training base, allegedly citing concerns for her physical safety. She added that most players were willing to follow her recommendations but encountered resistance from doctors and staff.
The specialist noted that before her arrival, the first team effectively lacked a structured sports nutrition program, and dietary issues were not considered important for injury prevention or performance improvement.
