Celtic new-boy Thomas Gravesen has hit out at his former boss Fabio Capello.
Celtic new-boy Thomas Gravesen has hit out at his former boss Fabio Capello, claiming the Italian did not give him a chance at Real Madrid.The Danish midfielder ended his 18 month stay in Spain by joining Gordon Strachan's men last month in a deal worth around £2 million.
Capello's arrival at The Santiago Bernabeu looked to signal the end of Gravesen's Real career and the 30-year-old has launched a scathing attack at the former Juventus coach.
"Capello arrived and told me in a very arrogant manner - without having seen me play - that he didn't want me," Gravesen told the Daily Record.
"He is not a nice guy. He did not even give me an opportunity. He didn't even know my name. He was arrogant and selfish.
"Mine wasn't the only name he couldn't remember. He referred to goalkeeper Iker Casillas as Bobo, which is the name of a former keeper who had already left the club."
Gravesen's former team mates were also not let off without being slated, with the Dane suggesting some of the superstars failed to pull their weight.
"It's fantastic to play for them when they are in the mood," he continued.
"But the team fell apart at times because only a few were doing any running.
"If a player is a superstar and earns more than any of the others then they should be leading the way but they didn't. At times they behaved like s***s."
Gravesen also feels the Spanish giants were misled in their perception of him.
The former Everton man is often labelled as a defensive midfielder and Gravesen is baffled why Real also thought that was the case.
"I don't know what they saw in me but I am not a defensive midfielder - at least I don't see myself that way," he said.
"They should have signed Carsley who used to play behind me at Everton - but I'm happy they made the mistake."
One of Gravesen's final acts in Madrid saw him involved in a training ground bust-up with Robinho.
Gravesen feels he was often unfairly treated by some sections of the Spanish media, with the most recent incident clear evidence of that being the case.
He added: "I made a couple of strong tackles on him but didn't leave him with any bruises.
"He retaliated by hitting me and giving me a couple of kicks so I went for him. It would have been better if I had not reacted like that.
"But Spanish TV, who had film of the sequence of events, decided not to show them. I wonder why?"
