Former Inter star Wesley Sneijder has revealed how ‘vodka became my best friend’ while he was playing for Real Madrid.
Sneijder won the Treble with Inter and reached the World Cup Final in 2010 but, just a year earlier, was struggling with form and fitness at Madrid.
According to the man himself, a secret alcohol addiction threatened to ruin his career long before he hung up his boots in August 2019.
“I was young and enjoyed the success and attention,” read an excerpt of the Dutchman’s upcoming autobiography, as per ESPN.
Former Inter star Wesley Sneijder has revealed how ‘vodka became my best friend’ while he was playing for Real Madrid.
Sneijder won the Treble with Inter and reached the World Cup Final in 2010 but, just a year earlier, was struggling with form and fitness at Madrid.
According to the man himself, a secret alcohol addiction threatened to ruin his career long before he hung up his boots in August 2019.
“I was young and enjoyed the success and attention,” read an excerpt of the Dutchman’s upcoming autobiography, as per ESPN.
“It must have gone wrong there — later. No drugs, but alcohol and ‘rock-and-roll’. I got used to that, as one of the stars… You are worshipped as a Real player.
“All your mis-steps are instantly forgiven because of your status and popularity. Even if I rolled over the street and spent thousands of euros or gave rounds to the whole bar. I cannot say that I resisted enough.
“I was left alone [after my divorce] and didn’t see the little one, Jessey, much … And I’m bad at being alone. Why would you even be alone when you have enough friends to spend your time with.
“I just didn’t realise that the bottle of vodka became my best friend. I played pretty well, but [Madrid] said I could do even better.
“I still played a lot, but not so good and sharply, less concentrated. My attitude was unworthy of Real Madrid.
“I lied to myself that it was going well and I held my own by my football intelligence.
“Physically I deteriorated. I ran less, covered up a lot with my technique and my kicking technique. I also thought no-one noticed.”