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A Namibian journalist singled out for criticism by Actual Madrid president Florentino Perez has hit again because the row over Vinicius Jr’s Ballon d’Or snub continues.
Vinicius Jr missed out to Manchester Metropolis midfielder Rodri final month, prompting the Madrid delegation to skip the ceremony in Paris.
They felt the Brazilian’s achievements in serving to Madrid to a Champions League/La Liga double trumped Rodri’s efforts in taking part in a pivotal position in Metropolis claiming the Premier League title and Spain profitable Euro 2024.
Rodri confirmed his Ballon d’Or to the followers on the Etihad Stadium, earlier than the match in opposition to Tottenham ⚽#ballondor pic.twitter.com/AeI4pCZfcB
— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) November 23, 2024
‘Rodri is a superb participant’
The award is voted on by a panel of 100 worldwide journalists and Perez, talking on the membership’s AGM on the weekend, was dismissive of the representatives from Namibia, Uganda, Albania and Finland.
He mentioned: “Rodri is a superb participant, he’s from Madrid, and he has our affection.
“He deserved a Ballon d’Or, however not this one. He deserved it the 12 months earlier than. This 12 months, the Ballon d’Or ought to have gone to a Actual Madrid participant: Vinícius, or our captain Dani Carvajal, and even Jude Bellingham.
“A few of [the voters] didn’t even embody Vinicius within the high 10. Can anybody perceive journalists not considering Vinícius is among the greatest on this planet? With out Namibia, Uganda, Albania and Finland, Vinícius would have received the Ballon d’Or. And people international locations didn’t even vote for Vinicius. Not one! The Finn, no less than, has resigned.
“Personally, I believe the Ballon d’Or ought to be organised independently, and the votes ought to be within the arms of well-known, prestigious folks with a popularity within the soccer world.”
Perez is displaying his frustration
His opinion has not gone down properly and Namibian journalist Sheefeni Nikodemus, who left Vinicius Jr out of his high 10 however did vote for Bellingham as his primary, was fast to reply on El Larguero.
Nikodemus mentioned: “Basically, I think it’s simply phrases from someone who’s pissed off, like Mr Perez.
“If he appears like folks from my nation, and the opposite international locations talked about, shouldn’t have a major vote as a result of we’re inferior folks, I might similar to to know.
“If I used to be from one of many main soccer nations, and I disagreed together with his opinion, what would his argument be?”
Each Rodri and Vinicius Jr are presently sidelined by harm.
Rodri is unlikely to play once more this season after rupturing an ACL in opposition to Arsenal in September whereas Vinicius Jr has a thigh harm that might preserve him out for the rest of 2024.
