Speaking on Radio Marca, the former Valencia CF and Real Madrid shot-stopper did not hold back in his analysis of a club convulsed by the Fede Valverde-Aurélien Tchouaméni dressing room incident and a series of other internal conflicts that have surfaced in recent weeks.
"A rudderless ship, with no direction, no course and no clear captain."
Cañizares identified the departure of key dressing room leaders as the root of the problem, pointing to a vacuum that nobody has filled.
"There was a captain — Dani Carvajal. Before that there were two more captains — Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos. We are talking about people who were impeccable in their behaviour and professionalism."
The exit of Kroos last summer, the diminished role of the veteran Modrić, and Carvajal's long-term injury absence have left the squad without the figures capable of restoring order in moments of tension, Cañizares argued.
He also turned his fire on the club's leadership structure, questioning both head coach Álvaro Arbeloa and president Florentino Pérez.
"The coach is not backed by great results and the president does not make the best sporting or conduct decisions."
His sharpest words were reserved for the captaincy order, specifically the decision to place Vinícius Júnior above goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in the hierarchy.
"If I have to give the armband to Vinicius or to Courtois, on the basis of professionalism and sportsmanship, I give it to Courtois without hesitation."
On the recurring dressing room conflicts, Cañizares acknowledged friction is inevitable in any squad but insisted the difference is whether a manager has the authority to act on it.
"There are always some problems inside a dressing room. When there is a coach with real power, the player who is causing trouble on Sunday simply does not get called up — and that is the end of it."
He closed with a phrase that captured his entire diagnosis in a single line.
"Professionalism is contagious — but so is indolence."
Real Madrid face Barcelona in El Clásico on Sunday, eleven points behind in La Liga with four games to go. Cañizares's verdict was delivered without ceremony: this is not a team in transition — it is a team that has lost itself.