Manchester City midfielder Rodri has dismissed claims that he rejected a move to Real Madrid because the Spanish club boycotted the Ballon d’Or ceremony after he won the award.
Rodri addressed the rumours in an interview with Mundo Deportivo, insisting that the Ballon d’Or had nothing to do with any decision involving Real Madrid.
“It’s not true that I rejected Real Madrid because they boycotted the Ballon d’Or. At the time, it didn’t affect me. It was my special day,” Rodri said.
The midfielder was responding to reports surrounding Real Madrid’s decision not to attend the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony after Vinicius Junior was not named the winner.
Rodri eventually won the prestigious award after an outstanding season with Manchester City and Spain.
He played a key role in City’s Premier League title success before helping Spain win the European Championship in Germany. His performances earned him the Ballon d’Or ahead of several top players.
The ceremony became a major talking point after Real Madrid decided not to send a delegation to Paris. The club had expected Vinicius to win the award and was unhappy with the outcome.
Rodri, however, says he does not want to focus on those who were absent from the ceremony.
“There’s no point in talking about people who were not at the ceremony. It was just a beautiful moment for my family and I,” he added.
