Former Italian manager Fabio Capello has lifted the lid on signing Robert Carlos for Real Madrid.
The left-back was with Inter Milan in 1996, but was being played out of position and wasn’t happy.
When Capello learned that the player and the club were willing to accept a transfer, he pounced at the opportunity.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Capello explained on Sky Italia.
“Giovanni Branchini told me they were going to sell him and I thought ‘how can Inter be about to sell Roberto Carlos?’.
“Because I didn’t believe it, they sent me a fax with the price and it wasn’t an unquestionable sum, so I called the Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz and told him to fly straight to Milan. I explained that all Italian teams would go for him once the news got out.
“By 23:00, the contract was ready. In less than 24 minutes.”
Capello then made a joke about Roberto Carlos’ current physical state, as he enjoys life as a pundit.
“I wouldn’t have signed him if he were as fat as he is now!” the Italian said.