Real Madrid president Perez BLASTS Rodriâs Ballon dâOr win
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has taken a massive swipe at Rodriâs Ballon dâOr win this year, doubling down on his clubâs controversial decision to boycott the award show last month.
The Manchester City midfielder won the Ballon dâOr 2024 after trophy success with his club as well as with Spain during the summerâs European Championship.
When it was revealed that Vinicius Junior would not be winning the most coveted prize a player can achieve in football, he and the rest of the Real Madrid squad announced that they would be boycotting the award ceremony in Paris.
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The club felt outraged that their attacker missed out and landed in second place, so they all refused attendance. Rodri was reportedly booed as he collected his award on the night, too.
And now, at Real Madridâs general assembly, Perez has defended the decision and even taken aim at some of the nations who voted at the gala.
Perez takes aim at Ballon dâOr
âRodri deserved a Ballon dâOr, but not this yearâ, he explained in quotes picked up by Footboom1. âThis year, the Ballon dâOr should have gone to a Real Madrid player, regardless of the criteria applied.

âWhether it was Vinicius, as the clamouring of fans worldwide suggested; or our captain, Dani Carvajal, if extra weight was given for the Euro; or even Jude Bellingham. It is very difficult to explain that no player from Real Madrid won it. Surprising things have happened,â said Perez.
He also spoke about the involvement of French publications and bodies, saying that their decision to increase the voting pool led to Real Madrid players missing out. ââLâEquipe and France Football, they claimed to have no influence, but they did.
Sr. Florentino Perez Rodriguez los periodistas que âno conoce nadieâ de Uganda o Namibia no les hace menos profesionales porque no les conozca nadie (o no los conozca usted).
Ni les hace menos personas para ejercer su derecho a voto si la FIFA lo estima oportuno por estar en⌠pic.twitter.com/3n7O2GkCNs
â ĂFRICA FUTBOLERA (@AfricaFutbolera) November 24, 2024
âThey increased the number of players eligible to vote from five to ten and raised the points each journalist could allocate to a player. It is surprising that in such a global sport, journalists from populous countries like India are not voting⌠while others with less than a million do. And no one knows them!
âWithout Namibia, Uganda, Albania, and Finland, Vinicius would have won the Ballon dâOr,â he said.

âMoreover, these countries didnât give any votes to Vinicius! None! At least the Finnish journalist resigned, acknowledging his mistake and stating he would not return to the jury. I appreciate that,â he said.
âWe should ask what criteria are used to select journalists that no one knows. But they can do whatever they want. First, I would ask âLâEquipeâ if it makes much sense to partner with UEFA at a time when clubs are fighting for our freedom.
Perez continued: âLet everyone understand that their votes affect their reputation. For this reason, Real Madrid deemed it appropriate not to attend this Ballon dâOr gala.â