Hell hath no fury like a Portuguese super-agent scorned.
Luka Modric, not Cristiano Ronaldo, was named UEFA’s Player of the Year on Thursday – a decision which clearly didn’t go down well with the Juventus star’s agent, Jorge Mendes.
Ronaldo scored 15 goals as Real Madrid won the Champions League for the third year on the spin last season and was expected to pick up the award when he was shortlisted alongside Modric and Liverpool’s Mo Salah.
However, it was revealed after the drawing of this season’s Champions League group stage that the 33-year-old had been beaten to the award by his former club-mate.
Ronaldo was not present at the ceremony in Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum, where he was named the season’s best forward. After it, Mendes made it known that he was far from impressed that his client had missed out.
“Football is played on the field and that’s where Cristiano won,” he told Record.
“He scored 15 goals, carried Real Madrid on his back and conquered the Champions League again. It’s ridiculous, shameful. The winner is not in doubt, as Ronaldo is the best in his position.”
55 journalists and 60 coaches from last season’s Champions League and Europa League teams were invited to vote for who they felt should win the award. Modric came out on top with a total of 313 points – 90 points more than Ronaldo, who finished as runner-up.
Since helping Real Madrid to the Champions League victory over Liverpool three months ago, Ronaldo brought an end to his nine-year stay at the Bernabeu by completing a move to Juventus.
His first two games for the Italian champions have ended in victory although he is yet to score his first goal for them – even though he came agonisingly close to doing so against Lazio at the weekend.
Juve learned on Thursday that they will take on Valencia, Young Boys and Ronaldo’s former club Manchester United in the group stages of this season’s Champions League.
