Butragueno: Real Madrid wrong to sack Del Bosque

Former Real Madrid vice-president Emilio Butragueno says the beginning of the club's shaky recent era was sparked by the mistaken dismissal of coach Vicente del Bosque.

"Del Bosque is an exceptional person, a man of Real, a Madridista. Perhaps with Vicente everything would now be different, but the club made a decision and the certain thing is that with Carlos Queiroz the team played very well until the final months," said Butragueno.

"We made a decision regarding Del Bosque that at the time was an error. It is peculiar to dismiss someone who has just won your club trophies."

Butragueno also rapped the current Real management for selling Ronaldo to AC Milan: "He's a player who can change the course of any game. You can give him the ball anywhere on the pitch and he'll score for you."