Jonathan Woodgate has revealed he considers his time at Real Madrid a "failure" after incessant injuries ravaged his stint in Spain - despite the club's best and most bizarre efforts to keep him fit.
Having broken through with Leeds at the age of 18, Woodgate showed signs of early promise and was subsequently snapped up by Newcastle in the summer of 2003. The former England centre-back then caused quite the stir when he joined La Liga giants Real Madrid one year later in a shock £13.4million move from the Magpies.
Despite the defender's undoubted quality, question marks remained over the then 24-year-old's fitness levels as countless injury concerns had hampered his early career. Those fears continued to come to fruition following his move to the Spanish capital as a string of setbacks saw Woodgate endure a torrid time with Los Blancos.
