Real Madrid’s recent Intercontinental Cup victory over Pachuca has revived memories of the club’s legendary eras. Among them, that of the Galacticos, where Roberto Carlos played a key role in the arrival of Zinedine Zidane.
Indeed, former Real Madrid left-back Roberto Carlos shared a memorable anecdote about Zinedine Zidane’s arrival at the club. In 2001, when Zizou was at Juventus, he had just lost two consecutive Champions League finals, including one to Real Madrid in 1998. Roberto Carlos, a true Madrid ambassador, was personally involved in recruiting the French maestro.
‘I knew he’d already lost two finals, so I told him that if he wanted to finally win it, he had to come and play for us, at the best club in the world,’ said the Brazilian in statements relayed by Defensa Central. The argument worked, and Zidane joined Real Madrid. Zidane became one of the pillars of a legendary team, marked by stars such as Luis Figo, David Beckham and, of course, Roberto Carlos himself.
Zidane’s lasting legacy at Real Madrid
Zidane’s impact was quickly felt, most notably in the 2002 Champions League final. From Roberto Carlos’ pinpoint cross, the Frenchman scored a legendary volley against Bayer Leverkusen. Roberto Carlos remembers the action with a sense of humour. ‘We often laugh when we talk about that action, because Santiago Solari gave me a terrible ball, I made a perfect cross for Zizou and he almost ruined it,’ added the Brazilian legend. The goal, considered one of the finest in history, helped Real Madrid win their ninth Champions League.
After his playing career, Zidane continued to write Real Madrid’s history as a coach. He arrived on the bench in 2016 at a time of crisis, and led the club to an unprecedented treble in the Champions League (2016, 2017, 2018). A feat that has firmly established him as one of the most iconic figures in world football.
