Real Madrid has been drawn into an embarrassing legal confrontation with Itziar González, the club’s former nutritionist, who has filed a formal lawsuit alleging workplace harassment and professional sabotage. Following her dismissal mid-way through this year, González has taken the unprecedented step of speaking out against the toxic internal culture she encountered at the Santiago Bernabéu. The specialist, who possesses an elite academic background with eight university degrees, claims she was subjected to a campaign of intimidation by the club’s medical and physiotherapy divisions, which she describes as “openly hostile” from the moment she joined the staff.
The nutritionist’s reputation was established on the global stage long before her tenure in Madrid. She served as a vital consultant for four members of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad: Guido Rodríguez, Germán Pezzella, Papu Gómez, and Marcos Acuña. Her work during the Qatar tournament was widely viewed as a contributing factor to the players’ peak physical performance. However, González claims that her pedigree meant little to the medical staff at Real Madrid, who allegedly viewed her presence with suspicion and jealousy, eventually conspiring to orchestrate her removal.
In an expansive interview with the Spanish publication Marca, González detailed the psychological warfare she endured. She clarified that her anger is not directed at President Florentino Pérez—for whom she maintains a “profound respect”—but at the mid-level management within the medical services. She alleges that staff members frequently mocked her in front of colleagues and encouraged players to defy her nutritional guidance. The most severe allegation involve a fabricated claim that she had “stolen a shipment of medical supplements,” a lie allegedly told to the President to ensure her immediate termination.
Itziar González: Professional Profile and Dispute
| Professional Pillar | Details and Figures |
| Education | 8 University Degrees (including Master’s level) |
| World Cup Impact | Nutritional lead for 4 Argentine Champions |
| Real Madrid Tenure | Concluded following the Club World Cup |
| Player Advocates | Supported by Dani Carvajal and Rodrygo |
| Legal Claim | Workplace bullying and professional defamation |
| Primary Objective | Formal institutional apology |
The expert revealed that the environment became so predatory that she suffered from panic attacks and continues to endure nightly terrors. Despite receiving surreptitious messages of support from senior players who valued her work, the internal opposition allegedly threatened to label her “crazy” to ensure she would never find work in elite football again. This forced her to move all professional communication to written formats to create a legal paper trail, as she no longer felt safe speaking to her colleagues.
González has made it explicitly clear that she is not seeking a financial settlement through the courts. Instead, her legal action is a quest for “truth and dignity.” She demands that Real Madrid acknowledge the mistreatment she suffered and issue a formal apology to clear her name. By telling her story, she hopes to ensure that the players she served—and the President she respects—understand the reality of the departmental sabotage that led to her exit.