Rodri on Real Madrid snubbing Ballon d'Or ceremony: Wouldn't have done the same

Rodri, the newly crowned Ballon d'Or winner, responded diplomatically to Real Madrid's boycott of the ceremony in support of Vinicius Jr, asserting that while he respects their choice, he would not have taken similar actions if roles were reversed.

In Short

• Rodri emphasized he wouldn’t have mirrored Real Madrid’s actions
• Real Madrid boycotted Ballon d'Or ceremony in Vinicius’s honor
• Rodri said he was never concerned about Real Madrid's actions

Manchester City and Spain’s midfield maestro Rodri has finally addressed the uproar surrounding Real Madrid’s boycott of the 2024 Ballon d'Or ceremony, where he claimed the prestigious award over Brazilian star Vinicius Jr. In an interview with COPE Radio, Rodri stated that he wouldn’t have taken the same approach as Real Madrid had the roles been reversed. The decision by Los Blancos not to attend the Paris ceremony was seen as a statement of solidarity with Vinicius, who many believed was the most deserving recipient of the award.

Vinicius Jr. had an exceptional season, leading Real Madrid with pivotal performances in both the UEFA Champions League and La Liga. His explosive playstyle and game-winning contributions cemented him as a fan favorite and garnered widespread support from former players and pundits, who saw him as the ideal Ballon d’Or winner. However, Rodri’s achievements – from securing a fourth consecutive Premier League title with Manchester City to lifting the Euro 2024 trophy with Spain – ultimately tipped the scales in his favor. This decision spurred Real Madrid’s entire roster, along with manager Carlo Ancelotti and President Florentino Pérez, to boycott the ceremony in protest.

Speaking to COPE Radio, Rodri revealed that he personally would not have adopted the same stance. "I’m not overly concerned with their actions, but I wouldn’t have taken it to that level," he remarked, addressing Real Madrid's choice to forego the ceremony even as Ancelotti won Coach of the Year and Real Madrid took home the Team of the Year honour.

"It’s not my club. I’m not my worried about that...I focus on my people, my club, my family. Real Madrid and Vinicius had their reasons...Probably I was not gonna do the same as themâ€æ but it means nothing, anyone makes his own decisions," Rodri said.

Meanwhile, Rodri remains sidelined as he recovers from an ACL injury, which has kept him out for a significant part of the current season. Fans and analysts are eager to see how his absence will affect Manchester City and how the Spanish midfielder will adapt when he finally returns to the pitch.