Manchester City midfield maestro Rodri has expressed his surprise at Cristiano Ronaldo’s criticism of his recent Ballon d’Or. The Spain international won the coveted title in October, recognition of his instrumental role in Manchester City’s Premier League triumph and Spain’s European Championship victory.
The announcement of the award sent shockwaves through the footballing community, in particular sparking a response from Real Madrid, who chose to boycott the ceremony. This was largely in protest against the selection of Rodri over that of their star, Vinicius Jr. Ronaldo, at the Globe Soccer Awards earlier this month, echoed sentiments that the Brazilian winger deserved more recognition.
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Cristiano said: “In my opinion, Vinicius Jr should have won the Ballon d’Or. It was clear to me. It was unfair. That’s why I attach a lot of importance to the Globe Soccer Awards; they embody honesty.”
In response, Rodri pointed out that five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo should better understand the voting dynamics of the award. “This really surprised me, because he knows how this award works better than anyone, especially the selection criteria. This year it was the journalists’ decision to crown me as the winner, and many of them had once voted for him I guess he accepted it at the time,” Rodri said in an interview with AS, a Spanish media outlet.
-Rodri also reflected on how winning the Ballon d’Or dramatically changed his life. “At first, I may not have fully understood the implications of this victory, but it has undoubtedly changed my life. There are many things that were possible for me before that are now no longer possible. However, it’s for a laudable reason; the recognition I received means a lot to my family and me. This moment will remain engraved in my memory,” he added.
Currently, Rodri is on the sidelines as he recovers from an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in a match against Arsenal. Nevertheless, he remains optimistic about a return to the field this season. “Psychologically, it’s going better than I anticipated. The pain has been as expected. The first month was quite difficult, but my mental recovery has exceeded my expectations. I know myself; I tend to do well recover and face things with a positive mindset. Everything is going well and, naturally, I’m looking forward to playing again this season,” he said.
Manchester City have struggled in Rodri’s absence, with their recent victory over Leicester being only their second triumph in the last 14 games in all competitions, leaving them perched in sixth place in the Premier League table.
Rodri believes that such slowdowns are part of the game, calling for people to stay calm rather than panic during this tumultuous phase. “It is crucial for the team to come together during this time. While we are undoubtedly facing difficult times that can be difficult to rationalize, it is essential to remember that such fluctuations are inherent to sport. We have to rise to the challenge. The good thing is that the season is still young. Football is inherently unpredictable. I don’t think this moment will prove decisive in the grand scheme of things, either negatively or. positively The seasons are longer now, and maintain calm. and its maturity is essential.”
He concluded: “We must not become complacent or expect instant change; that simply does not happen in football. Improvement is a gradual process. We are at a critical moment now. Winning must remain our priority, but without giving in to panic.”
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