Rodri’s coronation at the 2024 Ballon d’Or has obviously still not happened for Real Madrid. A few weeks ago, the Merengue club was shocked when they learned, a few hours before the ceremony, that Vinicius Jr, despite being the favorite, was not going to be crowned. The Spanish club had therefore decided to boycott the ceremony and not to make the trip. The players named in the categories and the president Florentino Perez therefore chose not to appear at the Châtelet theater.
If since then, water has flowed under the bridges and the Brazilian has turned the page, this is not the case for the president of Real Madrid. This Sunday, in an interview given to the COPEhe settled his accounts and explained what he considered to be a theft. “The Ballon d’Or? An event that UEFA organized for the first time in its history with France Football. I want to say that Rodri is a great footballer and, as he is from Madrid, he has our affection. He deserved a Ballon d’Or, but not this year, rather last year. This year it was for a Real Madrid player. The complaints were for Vinicius, but it could have been for our captain, Carvajal. Or even for Bellingham. It’s very difficult to explain.”confided Florentino Perez before pointing the finger at the voters.
Florentino Perez tackles journalists
“Without Namibia, Uganda, Albania and Finland, Vinicius would have won the Ballon d’Or. And what’s more, these countries didn’t give any votes (not even in the top 10) to Vinicius (laughs). Not a single one! (laughs). The Finn, at least, resigned. And he said he would no longer be on the jury. Look, I appreciate that. You should ask the organization what the criteria are. I will ask France Football and L’Équipe if it makes sense to partner with UEFA now. The Ballon d’Or should be an independent trophy and elected by well-known personalities.said the emblematic Madrid president.
For him there is no question either of believing that the Euro gave the advantage to Rodri. Because according to him, another Spaniard could then have benefited from the coronation of La Roja. “If the Euro influenced the votes? Carvajal also won it, it’s inexplicable. (…) But Vinicius is the best player in the world. Real Madrid fans are very proud of you. » A new clarification from Florentino Perez which confirms that Real Madrid did not digest the last result and that it had the feeling of being robbed. It remains to be seen whether Vinicius Jr will succeed in getting back on track to grab it next year.
