23.8.07

Emerson Slams "Distant" Madrid


In a brief interview with Radio Marca, new AC Milan signing Emerson had some harsh words for his former employers, Real Madrid...


Emerson's departure from Real Madrid was not a happy one, and the Brazilian midfielder has wasted no time giving his version of the events leading to his Bernabeu exit.


The midfielder arrived at AC Milan yesterday after a one year spell in Spain, during which he lifted the Liga trophy with his Real Madrid teammates.


Much of the Liga success, he attributes to Fabio Capello, the former Bernabeu coach who was sacked earlier this summer. Emerson praised the Italian's ability to forge a strong team spirit out of what could be a difficult squad to work with.


This helped Real Madrid develop an ability to stage comeback victories - not least that over Mallorca on the final day of the season that gave the blanquillos the championship.


Emerson was not one of the more popular players at Madrid, but insisted that "I have always thought about the team, and always did my best for it."


To this end, he denied ever refusing to play, such as against Bayern Munich. He claimed that it was, in fact, Fabio Capello's decision not to field the former Juventus midfielder.


Overall, he leaves on a sour note. He claimed, "In Madrid, the distance between the club and the players is very great," he grumbled - and perhaps never moreso than when president Ramon Calderon publicly stated the club's intention to offload Emerson earlier this summer.


They got their wish eventually, with AC Milan paying around 5 million euros for the man who had cost Madrid 16 million just twelve months earlier.

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