JONATHAN WOODGATE has unsurprisingly been named in Real Madrid’s worst XI of the 21st century by Marca.
The former England centre-back endured a nightmare stint at the Bernabeu following his shock move from Newcastle – it started badly and never recovered.
But who else makes the XI? Find out below…
GK – Kiko Casilla
THE Spaniard joined Madrid in 2015 after a fax machine blunder cost the club the chance to sign David De Gea.
Casilla was meant to challenge Keylor Navas for the No1 spot, but struggled throughout most of his 25 LaLiga appearances.
The one-cap Spain international was later sold to Leeds after proving you can have a similar name to a club legend, but it doesn’t make you one.
RB – Danilo
THE right-back was brought to the Bernabeu for around £30m in the same window as Casilla.
But he struggled to break into the first-team due to Dani Carvajal’s superb form before being sold to Manchester City – where he also failed to make the grade.
CB – Jonathan Woodgate
HE had quite possibly the most infamous debut of all time.
Woodgate had to wait a whole year to make it onto the pitch due to injury – and his first appearance against Athletic Bilbao couldn’t have gone worse.
The eight-cap England star scored an own goal before being sent off – and in 2007 was named Real’s worst signing of the 21st century.
Jonathan Woodgate struggled to cut it at Real Madrid
Asier Illarramendi failed to break into the Real Madrid XI with any consistency
CB – Walter Samuel
THE tough-tackling Argentine is most well-known for forging an impressive career in his home nation and in Italy.
But he endured one torrid season at the Bernabeu, failing to be the leader their back-line needed before being sold to Inter Milan.
LB – Theo Hernandez
REAL battled hard to bring the left-back in from rivals Atletico – but it wasn’t worth the effort.
Hernandez was swiftly loaned out to Real Sociedad before being sold permanently to AC Milan after just 13 LaLiga appearances.
CM – Asier Illarramendi
ARRIVING as a hot prospect during a monster spending spree in 2013, then-23-year-old Illarremendi never made the grade in the Spanish capital following his move from Real Sociedad.
Two years later, the midfielder was back at his old club after being sold by Carlo Ancelotti, and his terrific form back in the Basque Country saw him become a Spain international.
CM – Nuri Sahin
THE Turkish midfielder signed for Real from Borussia Dortmund in 2011 having burst onto the scene and making his international debut at the age of 17.
But Sahin struggled under Jose Mourinho and was loaned out to Liverpool and back to Dortmund, before heading to Germany permanently after three years.
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RM – Julien Faubert
THE Frenchman was one of the most bizarre transfers of the decade after he joined Real Madrid on loan from West Ham in a £1million deal.
After six months looking like a fish out of water, Faubert headed back to the Hammers where he spent a further three years before heading to Turkey.
CF – Antonio Cassano
THE Italian’s stint at Bernabeu certainly wasn’t quiet – with a major bust-up with boss Fabio Capello arguably his most famous moment.
The centre-forward’s attitude was slammed by president Ramon Calderon before he was loaned out to Sampdoria, before his move was made permanent after just two years and 19 games.
Royston Drenthe admitted to getting under Mourinho’s skin at RealCredit: Getty Images
LW – Royston Drenthe
SIGNED as one of the most exciting players in the world, Madrid were thrilled to win the race with a £12m offer to Feyenoord.
But the flying winger never cut it in Spain and even admitted to “p***ing off” Jose Mourinho.
Drenthe was released on a free as his five-year contract expired, following loan spells at Hercules and Everton.
ST – Javier Saviola
IT takes a lot for a free transfer to be considered unsuccessful, but that’s exactly what happened to Saviola.
The Argentine joined Real from fierce rivals Barcelona but was limited to bench appearances before being shipped off to Benfica after just two years.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
