Claude Makelele has revealed how Real Madrid forced him out of the Bernabeu.
“During this time I had two years left on my contract, after we won our first La Liga title,” Makélélé told Stadium Astro.
“Afterwards, the club president [Florentino Lopez] said to me ‘maybe we’ll renew your contact for another year’.
“I said it would be my pleasure.
“He said ‘it won’t be what we give [Zinedine] Zidane’ but I didn’t care.
“I shook his hand at every single game. I spoke to the President and said ‘when I come back, I’ll sign my contract’.
“‘Yes, no problem’, he replied.”
The club then signed [David] Beckham and even more of the ‘Galacticos’,” continued Makélélé.
“When we came back, I got my manager to see the President for my new contract.
“But he said there was no money left after signing Beckham.”
“He [Valdano] came to talk to me a little too aggressively,” added Makélélé.
“‘What are you thinking? You should be playing at Real Madrid for free’.
“He said ‘if you want to move, find us a team that will pay €15m for you’.
“Five teams made big offers – I didn’t want any problems.
“But Real denied any offers, so I went to the manager.
“I said ‘I’ve got a problem now. I don’t want to play here anymore – the club doesn’t respect me’.
“I wanted my team-mates to know the story because I was going to fight the club.”
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