Coach Carlo Ancelotti shared some sidelines about the Golden Ball award, the story was mentioned in the press conference before the match between Man City and Real Madrid.
After a draw against city rivals Atletico Madrid in La Liga, Real Madrid will travel to the Etihad, where they will play Man City in the first leg of the Champions League play-off for a ticket to the round of 16.
In the pre-match press conference, in addition to professional issues, the story of Real’s entourage not attending the 2024 Ballon d’Or award ceremony was mentioned once again, including stars as well as players of the Royal team.
When asked about the reason for not attending the important event, coach Carlo Ancelotti explained: “I don’t think it was a wrong decision. We didn’t participate because we believed Vini Jr deserved to win. But that doesn’t mean we disrespect Rodrigo. He is an excellent player and should have deserved the award last year. “
Notably, the owner of the 2023 Golden Ball belongs to Lionel Messi, the star with a brilliant performance in the journey to conquer the 2022 World Cup with the Argentina national team. In addition, his contributions to the championship with PSG also helped El Pulga stand on the podium for the eighth time.
In 2024, the race is set to get a little more dramatic as Vinicius and Rodri both have been in scintillating form throughout the season. While Vinicius has been instrumental in Real Madrid completing the treble, Rodri has been quietly contributing to the game for both Man City and Spain, earning himself the deserved reward of the Premier League and Euro 2024 titles.
At the award ceremony last October, the news that Rodri would be the winner of the Ballon d’Or was revealed before the announcement, and this is said to have angered Real’s board of directors, who decided not to attend the ceremony in Paris.
For the upcoming match, Ancelotti believes that Vinicius is in stable form and will likely play from the start.
The Italian tactician said: “He has had a very impressive season, especially when he had to come back from two injuries and not play continuously. He has scored 17 goals, has many assists and has played an important role in many matches… He is close to his best form and could reach it tomorrow. At the moment, he is very fit, motivated and eager to play.”
The match between Man City and Real Madrid will take place at 3:00 am tomorrow morning (February 12).
