A former player reveals the role of video games in his failure with Real Madrid

Former Brazilian player Ze Roberto told a story that was the reason for his failure in his experience with Real Madrid.
Ze Roberto had joined Real Madrid in 1997 at the beginning of his career, months after his promotion to the first team at the Brazilian club Portuguesa, but the experience did not last long, and he left the following year to Bayern Munich.
Ze Roberto, who played until the age of 43, appeared on a Brazilian program to review his long career, and Ze Roberto admitted that his addiction to video games played a major role in his decline.
Ze Roberto indicated in his statements to the Spanish newspaper “AS” that when he arrived at Real Madrid at the age of 22, he was not prepared psychologically or tactically, and he felt shocked by the team’s atmosphere and high professionalism.
The former Brazilian star stated that his lack of proficiency in Spanish or English made it more difficult for him to integrate.
Zi Roberto explained that his purchase of a ready-made “PlayStation” and his addiction to the game “Crash Bandicoot” caused him to stay up until dawn, eat poorly, and sleep little, which led to his weight gain and a decline in his performance.
He added: “This stage was a turning point in my life, as I later decided to get rid of any distractions and focus on fitness, nutrition and professionalism.”
He continued: “This change helped me return to Brazil at my best, and then play again with Bayern Munich until the age of 35, which was the basis for my entire career.”
At the conclusion of his statements, Zé Roberto confirmed that he treated his body as a “machine that needs daily maintenance,” which allowed him to continue until his retirement from Palmeiras in 2017.
It is worth noting that Ze Roberto conveys his experiences through lectures and dialogues, stressing the importance of discipline and focus for young players in the face of modern distractions such as social media.