Real Madrid are facing a deeply uncomfortable legal challenge from their former nutritionist, Itziar González, who has filed a lawsuit alleging systemic workplace harassment and professional defamation. González, who was dismissed earlier this year following the FIFA Club World Cup, has broken her silence to describe a “hostile and poisonous” atmosphere within the club’s medical and physiotherapy departments. Despite her impeccable academic background—holding eight university degrees—she claims her expertise was met with mockery and deliberate interference by internal staff who sought to isolate her from the first-team players.
González’s appointment at the Bernabéu was seen as a major coup, given her instrumental role in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph. During the tournament in Qatar, she managed the physical conditioning of four key squad members, including Marcos Acuña and Papu Gómez, earning praise for her scientific precision. However, she alleges that upon arriving in Madrid, the medical staff viewed her success as a threat. According to her testimony, colleagues frequently ridiculed her methods and actively incited players to ignore her dietary protocols, creating a fractured environment that undermined the club’s high-performance standards.
In a detailed exposé with the Spanish daily Marca, the health specialist clarified that her grievance is directed at the medical wing rather than the club’s presidency. She expressed a “deep affection” for President Florentino Pérez, though she revealed a chilling attempt by staff to ruin that relationship. González claims a false allegation was fabricated by her peers, accusing her of “stealing a shipment of nutritional supplements.” This smear campaign was allegedly designed to convince the President that she was “unstable” and unfit for her role, leading to her eventual exit from the club.
Highlights of the González Case
| Feature | Information |
| Qualifications | 8 Degrees (including Master’s in Nutrition/Health) |
| Past Success | Key advisor for Argentina’s 2022 World Cup win |
| Player Support | Positive feedback from Dani Carvajal and Rodrygo |
| Core Allegation | Professional sabotage and fabricated theft charges |
| Mental Impact | Reported persistent nightmares and trauma |
| Legal Goal | Official apology rather than monetary damages |
The nutritionist revealed that the psychological pressure became so intense that she was forced to conduct all professional interactions exclusively through written messages to protect herself from further lies. While she received private support from players like Dani Carvajal, the internal opposition made her daily work life a “recurring nightmare.” She recounted being told that if she attempted to change anything within the department, she would be fired immediately, a threat that was eventually carried out after the Club World Cup.
González insists that her pursuit of legal justice is not motivated by money, but by a desire for the truth to be acknowledged. She wants the players, the fans, and the board to understand the reality of the department’s internal politics. For González, the lawsuit is the final step in reclaiming her professional honour and ensuring that her contribution to the club is not remembered through the lens of fabricated scandals. She remains adamant that a formal apology from the institution is the only way she can finally move on from this traumatic chapter.