70 bottles a day… Former star of “Real” Madrid. I used to go to training drunk

Former Real Madrid and Roma defender Brazilian Sicinho has revealed in shocking and shocking admissions his long-term struggle with alcohol addiction, which began at the age of 13 and almost destroyed his football career despite success at the biggest international clubs.

“I fell in love with beer as if it were a woman.”

In a long interview with the Italian La Gazzetta dello Sport, Cicinho said: “It all started when I was 13, at a party with my friends. I tried a beer and fell in love with it like a woman. And the older I got, the more I drank.”

“When I arrived in Botafogo in 2001, I was drinking 20 beers and 10 caipirinhas a day. At 17 I even started smoking. But I still lived with football. I wanted to reach the top, make a lot of money and have fun.”

“Real Madrid”. “I was arriving drunk, and Capello didn’t suspect it.”

Although he moved to Real Madrid between 2005 and 2007, an opportunity every player dreams of, things took a turn for the worse.

Sisinho said: “It was worse. They hired me to be the new Michelle Salgado, and I said to myself, “Great, now I can stay up and party forever. I bought cars and clothes and had parties at home.’

He added in a shocking confession. “I used to go to bed at four o’clock in the morning and come to training at eight already drunk. Before going out, I would drink three or four cups of coffee and smoke a whole pack of cigarettes to hide the smell of alcohol. I was also very good on the pitch. Even Fabio Capello didn’t suspect anything.”

In Rome…terrible record

After moving to Rome at the invitation of Francesco Totti, who told him: “We are the Galacticos, come here,” Sisinho’s suffering from addiction continued.

“I set a record in Rome: 70 beers and 15 caipirinhas in one day. Plus two packs of cigarettes. I hated sleeping. I just wanted to stay up and celebrate at home with my friends.”

He added: “That’s when I realized I was suffering from depression, even though I didn’t want to admit it at the time.”

Salvation through woman and faith

Today, the former defenseman lives in Brazil, works as a television analyst and has not tasted a drop of alcohol for nearly 15 years, thanks to the support of his wife and his spiritual path to becoming an evangelical pastor.

He said: “I strongly believe in God. He helps you cleanse yourself from evil. I destroyed myself with alcohol. All the glory goes to my wife. when I returned to Brazil in 2012, I underwent psychotherapy with his help. I rediscovered the meaning of life and now I am happy.”