Former Real Madrid President Ramon Calderon has reflected on his time in office and says Fabio Capello ‘wanted to bring Gianluigi Buffon.’
Calderon assumed the Presidency in 2006 and hired Capello to coach the team, and told an interview with AS of discussing transfer targets with the Italian and the then-sporting director, Pedrag Mijatovic.
“When Capello arrived I remember he sat on the floor of my office and began handing out papers to decide who we did and didn’t want,” Calderon said.
“Yes, on the floor…Capello was clear. He wanted to bring Fabio Cannavaro, Buffon, David Trezeguet and Emerson.
“Juventus had been relegated and it was a great opportunity but I immediately dismissed it because we had Iker Casillas, the best. Cannavaro was fine because he had the Ballon d’Or. Emerson was not a success…”
Calderon explained why Trezeguet’s signature wasn’t pursued and also why other players bought in his tenure, such as Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder, were pushed out by Florentino Perez.
“Trezeguet? Mijatovic said he had signed Ruud van Nistelrooy, and Capello accepted that. Gonzalo Higuain, Marcelo, Fernando Gago also came,” he continued.
“And people like Robben and Sneijder, the year they left they played for Bayern Munich and Inter in the Champions League Final at Santiago Bernabeu. Perez doesn’t like to inherit things…”
