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Former Real Madrid Nutritionist Speaks Out As Shocking Workplace Harassment Revealed

Itzair Gonzalez, Real Madrid’s nutritionist, claims that she was subjected to workplace harassment by the club.

In an interview with Spanish outlet Marcer, Gonzalez went into detail about her time with Real Madrid. She opened up by saying, “The Medical Services created a hostile environment from the very first minute.”

Gonzalez is a highly qualified, multidisciplinary specialist: a trained physiotherapist (University of Salamanca) and osteopath (University of Alcalá de Henares), with a Master’s in Nutrition and Health and a European Master's in Nutrigenomics. She also holds postgraduate qualifications in regenerative therapy and immunonutrition, a degree in Nutrition, and early academic training in chemistry.

But despite her extensive qualifications, Gonzalez says she was subjected to mockery and sustained disrespect from peers and senior staff within the Spanish superclub.

“They put all sorts of obstacles in my way to do my job: at the buffet they serve the foods I advise against; the waitress laughs at me and repeatedly tells the players not to listen to me, saying I don’t know what I’m talking about,” Gonzalez said. “The cook ignores what I ask for and serves whatever he wants, including pre-match pastries; the manager refuses to buy what I recommend; and the person responsible for preparing supplements gives players different products from those I specify.

“The doctors and physiotherapists tell players not to follow my instructions and withhold information about their condition or what they are being given, medication, vitamins, supplements, even though I warn that this risks harmful interactions.

“They constantly laugh at me, make fun of me in WhatsApp groups, and tell players to take things that contradict my recommendations.”

🚨 Itziar Gonzalez (Real Madrid's former nutrition specialist): "My relationship with the players? They're wonderful. I couldn't talk to them much because the Medical Services put all sorts of obstacles in my way, and it was they who asked me to travel with the team so they could… pic.twitter.com/19GhxgppZY
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) December 18, 2025

Perhaps the most striking paradox in Gonzalez’s account is her reported support from the players themselves. She maintains that many players responded positively to her nutritional framework and that improvements in fatigue, agility, cramps, and recovery were all cited.

She said that this was communicated directly to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, but instead of receiving support, she faced more internal hostility.

And the treatment of Gonzalez carried on from there. “Management has barred me from entering Valdebebas, supposedly for my physical safety,” she said. “They told me they were launching an internal investigation and that I shouldn't worry, that they were going to fire everyone because what they'd done was unacceptable. I asked to leave again, but they refused. They told me to continue doing my job from home.”

Despite claims from the club that she had nothing to worry about, Gonzalez told Marca that she got a call from the human resources director thanking her for her work at the club and that the “nutrition Service was being cancelled.”

“They told me I had done an exceptional job,” Gonzalez said. “They were going to pay me the remainder of my contract but I told him that I just wanted the president and the players to know the truth.”

The human rights director said that would not be possible.

Gonzalez ended her interview with a chilling statement. “I still have nightmares every night. I want to close this chapter forever, and I feel that until I tell my story, I won't be able to close it. “I tell them it's not about winning or losing, I just want the president, the players, and the people I care about to know the truth.”

🚨 Former Real Madrid nutritionist Itziar González says the club barred her from entering Valdebebas, claiming it was for her "physical safety," amid a workplace harassment fight she's now taking to court.

· She says from the beginning the club’s medical staff resisted her… pic.twitter.com/OsWBGB2ZIl
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) December 19, 2025