Rabat – Former Real Madrid nutritionist Itziar Gonzalez has raised serious concerns about the club’s medical staff, criticizing what she described as poor practices and the misuse of artificial intelligence in player care decisions.
Her comments come shortly after the controversy surrounding Kylian Mbappe’s knee injury, which was initially misdiagnosed following a medical error.
Gonzalez reacted publicly, questioning how such mistakes could happen inside a top-level club.
In a message on her Instagram account, she mocked what she sees as unprofessional behavior within the staff.
Gonzalez wrote that some members rely on free AI tools to decide on dietary supplements, instead of using proper medical and scientific methods. Her comment pointed directly at the way technology gets used without enough expertise behind it.
🚨 BREAKING: Former Real Madrid nutritionist Itziar Gonzalez says on IG that Real Madrid have been asking the “free version of ChatGPT” what supplements they should give the players, and that’s what they give them. pic.twitter.com/Ndqn4LALD5
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) March 24, 2026
Criticism of internal practices
In addition to lambasting the use of AI, Gonzalez questioned how certain individuals remain in their roles despite repeated failures to deliver top-quality services.
She claims that personal relationships inside the club influence decisions more than competence and experience.
This situation affects the overall quality of care provided to players, Gonzalez argued, stressing that clubs at this level should rely on qualified professionals who can make informed decisions, especially when it comes to player health and recovery.
Gonzalez worked with Real Madrid’s setup during the 2021-2022 season before joining the first team on a full-time basis in October 2024.
She said she faced a difficult working environment during her time at the club.
Her tenure ended in 2025 after the club dismissed her. Following her departure, she entered into a legal dispute with Madrid over the circumstances of her exit.
Since then, she has spoken more openly about her experience.
Read also: Mbappe’s Knee Injury was Initially Misdiagnosed After an MRI Was Performed on Wrong Leg
