What was Robinho thinking.
The year was 2006. Real Madrid were partaking in a pre-season training camp in Austria. With the beautiful Austrian mountain backdrop, the setting was spoilt by an infamous argument.
A year prior, Thomas Gravesen had made his way from Everton to Real Madrid. In one of the more bizarre transfers of the decade, the Dane was there to fill the boots of the likes of Claude Makelele in a holding role.
Sadly it didn't quite work out as planned for Gravesen as part of 'The Galacticos'. He made seventeen appearances across his first season, mostly used as a substitute.
On the other hand, Robinho was enjoying his first season in a Real Madrid shirt. He racked up 37 appearances and fourteen goals to add to his season tally.
15 years ago today Tommy Gravesen livened up pre-season at Real Madrid... by giving Robinho a straightener.
Bonkers. pic.twitter.com/JxzswtZq05— A Funny Old Game (@sid_lambert) August 2, 2021
They were players at the opposite ends of their careers. Gravesen was 30, Robinho 22. That didn't stop Robinho's confidence in going after a player twice his size, with a reputation for being a hardman.
"He gave him a kick, then another one. Robinho stopped, looked at him and shoved him in the chest, and then it kicked off. Gravesen wanted to kill him," teammate Julio Baptista recalled.
"They were separated but Robinho went back to the changing rooms and Gravesen looked and me and said, 'I'm going to kill him.'"
It's a wonder how pictures even emerged from the incident. Real Madrid didn't do much to cover up the bust up, as the infamous photos show a possessed Gravesen sucker punching Robinho to the next dimension.
Fabio Capello was manager at the time, and it's to no surprise he was asked about Gravesen's temper. "He is just a little bit peculiar," Capello said. "I don't mess with him, he works well tactically."
The old school Capello no doubt had some admiration for the 30-year-old at the time, but couldn't condone the fight. "His behaviour is like this, and I don't like it, everything has to be done like he wants it to be done."
So in a team with the likes of David Beckham, Raúl and Ronaldo - a picture was painted that Thomas Gravesen was the biggest diva in the dressing room. A likely scenario.
Well, a mere few weeks after the training ground leak, there was little shock to see Gravesen make his way out of the Bernabeu. He signed for Celtic later in the month.
It was a strange tale of one of Europe's top teams at the time, and years after we look back on it and wonder what was going through Robinho's head.
Let it be a lesson to all footballers out there, don't pick fights with your elders, and most certainly, don't pick a fight with Thomas Gravesen.
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