Danilo, a former full-back for Real Madrid, has reportedly talked candidly about the psychological challenges he faced while playing for the team.
The Brazilian acknowledged that the stress and criticism he received at the Santiago Bernabeu negatively impacted his mental well-being.
After joining Los Blancos from Porto in 2015, the former Manchester City player won two Champions League titles but fell short of expectations, which drew harsh criticism from the media and supporters alike.
“Real Madrid was the peak of this problem because it is the biggest club in the world,” Danilo revealed, as quoted by Madrid Universal.
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“I suffered so much that I had to seek psychological help. There were moments when I felt like I had forgotten how to play football.
“The criticism hurt me a lot—I was completely caught up in it, in social media, in everything. That’s when I started working with a sports psychologist,” he added.
Danilo, who was vying with Dani Carvajal for a starting position, found it difficult to establish himself in the team and was frequently criticized.
His compatriot and former teammate Lucas Silva, who also had a difficult time at Madrid, advised him to seek professional assistance when the burden finally became too much for him.
Danilo left Real Madrid in 2017 to play for City, where he was coached by Pep Guardiola, whom he commended for his tactical vision and emotional intelligence, emphasizing the beneficial effects of his leadership on his career.
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