The agent of Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo, Jorge Mendes, speaking to the Portuguese media, said that "UEFA should be ashamed" that his client was not chosen as the best football player of the year.
At the UEFA ceremony held on Thursday, the best players of the past season were announced. C. Ronaldo refused to attend the ceremony, even though he was nominated as the best forward of the 2017-18 Champions League season.
Portugal probably knew that the best player of 2018 would be Luka Modrić, not him, so he refused to go to Monaco. Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah, who did not win any award, attended the ceremony and watched L. Modrić's triumph from afar.
Although many football fans were happy that the trophy finally went to a player who is not just a goal scorer, C. Ronaldo's agent had a different opinion.
"Football is played on the field, and Cristiano always wins there. Last season he scored 15 goals and led Real Madrid to another triumph in the Champions League.
What happened is scandalous and shameful. The winner is already clear, and it is Ronaldo, the best player in his position," vented J. Mendes.
Partially agreeing with him is Juventus director Beppe Marotta, who now has C. Ronaldo in his club: "We are disappointed that he did not win this trophy. The results should be judged based on what the player achieved in the Champions League, not the World Cup. Ronaldo deserved to win more than anyone else."
