Manchester United legend and TV pundit and commentator Gary Neville has hit out at both Vinicius Jr and Real Madrid for their behaviour around the Ballon d’Or awards.
Manchester City and Spain international defensive midfielder Rodri became the first player to operate in his position to claim the illustrious individual prize since Germany legend Lothar Matthaus in 1990.
It was the ultimate crowning glory for the 28-year-old in a year that has seen him contribute heavily to both his club achievements and on the international stage, with both collective and individual honours to his name.
Having won the FIFA Club World Cup, Premier League title, and the European Championships in Germany, Rodri’s performances were also recognised with Player of the Tournament trophies in Saudi Arabia and during the summer national team tournament.
But despite those vast achievements and his consistently excellent and integral performances whenever called upon, Real Madrid were left baffled by the decision from voters to snub Vinicius Jr for the Ballon d’Or crown this year.
Such was their anger towards the outcome of the honour that the entire Real Madrid delegation, including award winners on the night and other nominees, cancelled their attendance at the Paris ceremony last week.
Speaking during the latest episode of the ‘It’s Called Soccer!’ podcast this week, Gary Neville has labelled Real Madrid as “outrageous” for their boycott of the Ballon d’Or awards, and “classless” when it comes to the reaction of Vinicius Jr.
“I’m delighted Rodri has won the Ballon d’Or. I’m delighted to see it’s gone to a player who has contributed week in, week out consistently at such a high level for his club (Manchester City) and his country (Spain) winning the European Championships,” Neville said.
“They weren’t favourites by the way (Spain at Euro 2024), they were nowhere near favourites for winning the Euros. But he’s absolutely immense and he was immense for Manchester City last season.”
Neville continued by appreciating the disappointment in some quarters at the result of Vinicius Jr not claiming his first Ballon d’Or crown, but hit out at the behaviour of both the player and his club on the day and evening of the ceremony in Paris.
“I can understand people in Madrid and people in Brazil being upset that their boy hasn’t won it because he’s a special talent,” he said. “I feel in doing what they’ve done to disrespect Rodri in the way in which they have, I think it naturally does that, I think it’s absolutely outrageous.”
Neville explained, “Vinicius is a special talent, he’s amazing, he’s going to win it one day I’m sure. But the idea that you try and take the glory away and sort of pull the spotlight away from a player.
“I get he’s a fans’ player, he’s a players’ player, he’s somebody who will be respected all around the world and a good man. I just think he’s classless, I agree with you completely,” he said of the Brazil international.
As for Rodri, the Spain international remains sidelined through injury and is not expected to return to Manchester City action or duties until midway through the new year, with Pep Guardiola pointing towards a return for the 2025/26 season.
In the meantime, Manchester City continue to work on their solutions to Rodri’s absence within the first-team squad, and have so far looked towards the likes of Mateo Kovacic and Ilkay Gundogan as options.
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