Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Real Madrid Vinicius Jr. Ballon d’Or should have won instead of Manchester City midfielder Rodri.
Real made headlines in October after members of the club, including Ancelotti and Vinicius, decided not to take part in the Ballon D’Or award ceremony after he had supposedly learned that the Brazil star did not win the prize.
Instead, the influential midfielder of Spain and City, Rodri, received the prestigious price after helping his club to another title of the Premier League and won the Euro 2024. Vinicius’ teammate was Juden Bellingham in third place.
So far, Real has not spoken of her reasons not to take part in the ceremony, where you had received the team of the year, but Ancelotti has now broken to silence when the two sides are preparing for it in one two – Encountered Champions League Knockout Round Play-Off.
“We didn’t want to participate because we believed that Vinicius should have won the balloon d’Or,” said the Italian.
“And that doesn’t mean that we don’t respect Rodrigo, but we believed that he should have won last year, not this.”
🎙️ @Mrancelotti 🎙️
📺 Press conference ➡️ RM Play– Real Madrid CF 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@Realmadriden) February 10, 2025
City v Real ‘a classic’
For the fourth time in a row, City and Real are in a knockout draw in the Champions League, whereby Real is getting into the parts in two of these last three meetings on the way to winning the competition.
It has caused many to observe the encounter of a modern classic in football.
Ancelotti said: “Now it seems like a classic, as before it will be an entertaining match. It is very difficult to predict what will happen because it depends on quality and personality.
“You (the games) have such a high level that you have to publish the best version,” he said.
Ancelotti: Given Pep, a “nightmare” is
Ancelotti achieved the better from Pep Gardiola last season, and in the quarter-finals after a 4: 4 draw in the quarter-finals.
Nevertheless, the 65-year-old knows that he faces another discouraging task against the Treble winner in 2023.
“I can say that he seems to be a trainer who has contributed a lot to football: property, attack game, press and build from behind.
“Every time we face each other, it is a nightmare to prepare the games because he always has ideas that make you think.”
