[3] International call-ups of some players in the first team gave Bravo the chance for a La Liga debut against Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabéu, on 6 October 2001, and he played 70 minutes in a 2–0 win.

[5] During Euro 2004, in which he appeared for Spain, Mick McCarthy, whilst commentating for the BBC, remarked that he looked a different player to the one in his Elland Road stint; Roberto Carlos' presence, however, restricted his playing time in the Real main squad.

[6] After having appeared rarely due to injuries, he had a short return to Spain in the 2009 January transfer window, moving on loan to top-tier strugglers CD Numancia[7][8] and having almost no impact in a relegation-ending campaign.

[14][2] Subsequently, he was a participant at UEFA Euro 2004,[15] playing every minute in Spain's group stage exit campaign, against Portugal, Russia and eventual champions Greece (always as a stopper);[16][17] he was not recalled since, receiving a total of 14 caps.

[18] The following January he was accused by Serbian tabloid newspaper Telegraf of hiring a contract killer to murder his former Olympiacos teammate Darko Kovačević,[19][20] which he vehemently denied, commenting: "It's a crazy story, it's nonsense.