Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has shared his take on Real Madrid’s decision to snub the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony after it emerged Rodri was going to win.
City midfielder Rodri emerged as winner of the prestigious award beating off competition from Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, Dani Carvajal and Jude Bellingham.
Madrid’s decision to snub the event has been criticized by some football stakeholders while some insisted that organisers should also be blamed.
Sharing his thoughts on this, Guardiola who would not directly criticise the Spanish giants for the snub, pointedly said that Erling Haaland would have been a deserving winner of the award last year yet was still on hand to congratulate Lionel Messi.
Manchester City’s Spanish midfielder Rodri receives the Ballon d’Or award (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
“Nothing to say, if they want to go fine, if they don’t fine,” Guardiola said. “We are not here to judge what other clubs decide what they have to do.
“I would say for us, last season for us Erling won the treble, scored more than 50 goals and I said to him, even being there you have to be happy. If you are in the first two, three, four, it means you gave an incredible year. You have to be so satisfied.
“Last season Erling should have won, but Messi should have won. In the end, it’s not important.
“You and your teammates have done a really nice season and if people believe another should have won it’s fine. Vinicius? Maybe. But it’s 100 journalists all around the world. There are different opinions, that’s why football is nice.”
Guardiola also called Rodri’s success in winning the men’s Ballon d’Or a proud moment for Manchester City and also a reminder of what they are missing with the midfielder ruled out for the rest of the season.
“First of all, of course congratulations to him and all his family and friends,” Guardiola said. “It’s incredible news for him and of course for all of us, all at City and our fans. We’re so proud of him. It’s the first time.
“We could never have imagined years ago that one player would receive this prestigious award. We are so delighted to be part of it and to share it with him and yes, hopefully it can give him energy to recover well for next season and be with us again.”
Rodri has become a vital part of City’s midfield since joining City from Atletico Madrid in 2019. He is currently out due to an ACL injury.
