Former Real Madrid defender Danilo has recently published a moving article in The Player’s Tribune, revealing the mental health challenges he faced during his tenure at Real Madrid. The Brazilian international’s candid revelations shed light on the often-overlooked psychological pressures faced by professional athletes.
Struggling with Depression
Danilo’s time at Real Madrid, which began with high expectations following his €31 million transfer from Porto, was marred by severe mental health struggles. In his article, he detailed the profound impact this period had on him:
“During that first season I suffered from depression. I was lost, I felt useless, on the field I couldn’t make a pass of more than 5 meters, it was as if I couldn’t move… My passion for football disappeared and I didn’t see a way out. I wanted to return home to Brazil and never play again.”
Identity and Pressure
Danilo also opened up about the immense pressure of living up to his price tag and the expectations associated with playing for Real Madrid. He recounted:
“I didn’t see myself as Baianinho, Baiano’s son (that’s what they call my father). I saw myself as Danilo, the one who had signed for 31 million euros, as the newspapers reported: the more expensive defender that Real Madrid had bought.”
A particularly low point came during a match against Alaves:
“(In a game vs Alaves) Theo Hernández stole the ball from me and crossed for Deyverson to score. We won 4-1, but it was a mistake that cannot be made at Real Madrid. I will never forget coming home that night and not being able to sleep. I wrote in my notebook: ‘I think it’s time to leave football.’ I was 24 years old!”
Rediscovering Himself
“Which part of me was really feeling the pressure? The boy who had been a revelation as a right-back for Porto? Or the boy from Bicas who had suddenly signed for the biggest team in the world? The answer was clear. Inside you are still, and you will always be, the boy from Bicas.”
Despite the support from teammates like Casemiro, Danilo found it difficult to communicate his struggles:
“I didn’t tell anyone what I was feeling. Casemiro tried to help me, but I ‘swallowed the frog,’ as they say. And it got bigger and bigger.”
The Turning Point
“But after a few months of suffering, I started seeing a psychologist and he really saved my career. The most important lesson it taught me was to see the game again through the eyes of a child.”