Kosovare Asllani, who has been linked to AC Milan, recently spoke to the press while preparing for the upcoming Women’s Euros with Sweden on Thursday.
During the press conference, the forward had harsh things to say about the environment at her former team, Real Madrid. The Swedish international lambasted the club for having an ‘unprofessional environment’ and how the team forced her and other players to play while still injured. The translation from Swedish to English comes courtesy of ESPN.
“I think there is a culture at the club which is unhealthy for players to be in. I have almost been forced to play injured. The management team has not listened to the medical team. It has become a very unhealthy and dangerous environment,” she began.
“I have done a lot for the club from the beginning and I have seen that the club has not treated players well over the years.”
The accusations about the environment at Real Madrid Femenino are nothing new. There have been rumblings about how poorly the women’s team has been managed for nearly its entire existence. This is, however, the first time a former player has spoken about those accusations publicly.
“I think it’s important for me to talk, since no one else has. I have tried to make changes, but in the end, the environment created there is one of refusing to listen to the medical team and the players.”
Asllani’s statements were corroborated by Sofia Jakobsson, who was Kosse’s team-mate at Real Madrid for two years and who is also her compatriot for Sweden. Jakobsson later left Madrid for Bayern Munich before eventually signing for the San Diego Wave in the NWSL, and she spoke in the same press conferences.
“I’ve been pretty lucky with no injuries myself so I haven’t been able to see what Asllani has experienced from the inside. Now, it was probably this year in particular, and Kosovare has been injured a lot in the time I haven’t been at Real Madrid […] But I can say that I agree with her from what I have seen during my time there (at Madrid), although I was never injured.”
“You [referring to Asllani] think it’s an unprofessional environment, where maybe you had higher expectations and you expected them to take care of their players, and have a desire for them to be injury-free and perform at their absolute peak, as well as be 100 percent before games and not be half injured and play or be forced to play.
“I would want to see that a club can take care of that kind of player so they can play a full season without being injured all the time.”
As was noted before, Asllani only scored three goals last season, and this was mainly due to injuries and internal politics. Now, we know why the player struggled so much during that time, despite her love for her childhood club. We also have her reasons for leaving them after three years of service.
It should also be emphasised that the forward has gone on record saying that she ‘cares a lot about Real Madrid’ and still considers herself a fan. However, the player feels that the women’s team is in the wrong hands and needs to change for the better.
Asllani has also stated that she will not reveal her next club until the Euros are over. As per SempreMilan’s sources, Kosse is ‘100%’ a Milan player, and the team is her next destination. The fans will have to wait a few weeks for her to be unveiled by the club.
The fans will also hope that the Rossonere will provide her with a better environment than what she has experienced at her previous teams.
Welcome Kosse!❤️🖤