Former Real Madrid Nutritionist Sues Over Workplace Harassment

Real Madrid have been thrust into a public relations crisis following serious allegations of workplace harassment and professional sabotage levelled by their former nutritionist, Itziar González. Dismissed by the club earlier this year following the FIFA Club World Cup, González has now escalated the dispute to the courts, seeking formal redress for what she describes as a “harrowing” tenure at the Santiago Bernabéu. The health expert, who boasts eight university degrees including several master’s qualifications, claims she was subjected to a systematic campaign of mockery and intimidation by the club’s medical and physiotherapy departments.

González arrived at Real Madrid with a formidable reputation. She was widely credited as a key figure in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph, having served as the personal nutritionist for four members of the championship squad: Guido Rodríguez, Germán Pezzella, Papu Gómez, and Marcos Acuña. Her work with Acuña, in particular, was praised for maintaining his elite physical condition during the tournament in Qatar. However, despite her scientific credentials and international success, González alleges that her arrival at Madrid was met with immediate hostility from the established medical staff, who viewed her progressive methods as a threat.

In a candid interview with the Spanish daily Marca, González clarified that her grievance is not with the club’s hierarchy or President Florentino Pérez—for whom she expressed “deep respect”—but rather with the toxic environment fostered by the medical services. She claims staff members actively encouraged players to ignore her dietary instructions and frequently ridiculed her expertise. Perhaps most damagingly, she alleges that internal rivals fabricated a story claiming she had “stolen a shipment of supplements” in a deliberate attempt to turn the President against her.

Profile: Itziar González’s Professional Journey

The psychological toll of the ordeal has been significant, with González admitting to suffering from persistent nightmares since her departure. She revealed that many players, including senior figures like Dani Carvajal and Rodrygo, sent her private messages of support, yet the departmental friction made her role untenable. “They told me I was doing everything wrong and threatened to tell the President I was ‘crazy’ just to get me sacked,” she stated.

González maintains that her legal action is not motivated by financial gain. Instead, she is demanding a public apology from the club to restore her professional reputation. She noted that after the theft allegations surfaced, she felt so unsafe that she ceased all verbal communication with colleagues, relying solely on written records to protect herself. For the nutritionist, the court case is about the truth being heard by the fans and the players she cared for, ensuring that the “hostile environment” she endured is exposed to the light.