Kosovare Asllani speaks out over 'dangerous environment' at Real Madrid | OneFootball

Kosovare Asllani was Real Madrid Femenino’s first-ever signing in 2019. Three years later her career in Madrid is over and she is ready to open up about her experience in Spain.

In a recent interview with Fotbollskanalen, the Sweden international alleged the club has a dangerous environment for players regarding health and fitness.

“It is difficult to go into detail, but for my part it is very much about the fact that I think it is a culture in the club, which is unhealthy for players to be in, which I myself have been in, where I have almost become forced to play injured and not helped,” she said.

“The leadership team has not listened to the medical team, and in the end [leaving] was a decision I had to make to have a longer career. It has become a very unhealthy and dangerous environment for players to be in.”

The 32-year-old striker admitted that trying to change the issue and then speaking out on it was an important task even after leaving the club.

“I think I have done a lot for the club from the beginning and then I have seen that the club has not treated players well during all years. There have been very many.

“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 that one refuses to listen to the medical team and the players.

“It is no coincidence that I was injured over there and had a setback, as you are constantly pushed to play injured or sick. It is not a healthy environment.

“It has been going on during all three years I have been there and with the result in hand, I might have left already last summer, but I gave it one last chance. You want to make a difference, as it is a big club and you want to help it [succeed].

“I’ve been a big part of the club’s history and done a lot for it, but unfortunately it’s an environment that is not healthy, and it’s not just me. There are an incredible number of players in the club who have had to go through a lot, which I do not think is okay and is right in a top club.”

Still, she confirms Real Madrid will always hold a special place in her heart.

“I care incredibly much about the club, but I feel that it is in the wrong hands … I do not regret that I went there. I do not regret my decision, as I felt it was the right and right step,” she said.

“But for me it is also about, as a player who played at the top level for x number of years, to also listen and do things better to create a professional environment. I say this because I want it to be a professional environment and they know that too. I hope that will be the case for the players who remain there.

“I do not think it is the only club, where coaches run over the medical team. I think it’s an environment created by just wanting results and seeing players as products. It does not matter if someone is injured, it is just to replace it in such cases. Then you are the only one who loses on it. I have not been in an environment where I have been pushed as much to play injured, as there. That’s why I’ve been there (injured) for most of the season.

“I think it is incredibly important to talk about it to bring about a change.”

And it’s not the first time Asllani has been vocal about issues in women’s football, previously calling out Real Madrid for not having a women’s team back in 2018.