Rodri has issued a scathing assessment of Real Madrid over their decision to massively boycott the Ballon d’Or ceremony, saying he “cannot respect” the Spanish giants for staying away from Paris on one of the biggest nights out career.
The Manchester City midfielder was a somewhat surprise winner of football’s biggest individual prize, a prize that many in the Madrid area believed was destined for favorite Vinicius Junior. When news of Rodri’s impending victory broke in the hours leading up to the ceremony, Madrid decided to withdraw the entire delegation from the event, leaving the men’s club of the year award uncollected.
Rodri largely hesitated to comment on Madrid’s absence in his acceptance speech, but he did not hold back in his criticism of the Spanish giants during his speech on “The Rest is Football” podcast. Instead, he suggested Madrid could have cushioned their disappointment with the grace he believes City did in 2023 when Erling Haaland missed Lionel Messi.
“It’s a decision for individuals or clubs in general to decide what to do,” he said. “I can’t respect the decision, I always said I wouldn’t do it the same way. I remember last year Erling was maybe close to winning. I wanted to be there with him to support the whole club and also Even if Leo had won, we stood there clapping [for] him because the Ballon d’Or is a recognition, not for a player, but for a year, for a level of a man for a whole year.
“In sports and in life it is important to win. But I think even more about how to lose, and I always say the same thing: it was my moment, I didn’t want to talk about others. They didn’t want to be like that .” there — I want to be with my club, with my family, the people who were there and clapped [for] me and that was a fantastic moment.”
A repeat win will prove the 28-year-old’s goal this season after a serious knee injury he suffered in September. His manager Pep Guardiola ruled him out for the rest of the season when he confirmed he had an ACL tear, but Rodri is not so sure. “My goal is to come back this season,” he said.
“I think it will be positive for me if I don’t give up on the season. I don’t want to run, you know, I don’t want to make mistakes. But yeah, that’s true.” my mentality, I don’t know when. My goal is six, seven months, but the physios will prescribe it.”