Cristiano Ronaldo Refuses To Celebrate Goals Against Granada, Cites ‘Professional Problems’ At Real Madrid, Sparks Inevitable Exit Rumours

Chris Wright

3rd, September 2012

23 Comments

By Chris Wright

Cristiano Ronaldo took his goal tally for Real Madrid to a peerless 150 in 149 games with a couple of goals against Granada on Sunday evening, though his reaction (or lack thereof) has caused seismic waves in rumour-mill circles – with a glum Ronaldo flat-out refusing to celebrate.

After the match, reporters clawed to ask what in the blue blazes he was mithering about, to which Ronaldo flatly replied: “Maybe it’s because I am a bit down. That is the only explanation. When I don’t celebrate goals it’s because I’m not happy.”

Ronaldo was then asked if his funk was anything to do with Andres Iniesta pipping him to the UEFA ‘Best Player in Europe’ Award despite another record-shattering season for Real Madrid last year – Ronaldo replied: “No, it’s more important than that.”

He was then asked directly why he was so down – “People [at Real Madrid] know why”. He was then asked if it was a personal issue -“Professional”, came his abrupt reply.

Finally, Ronaldo was asked by a reporter whether he was angry with himself or the Spanish press, to which he replied: “No, it’s not that”. Then, when bluntly asked what was wrong—”I will speak no more.”

Obviously Ronaldo’s grouching has led many-a-tabloid to report that he’s on his way out of Madrid having had a furious to-do with Jose Mourinho over the bag of Licorice Allsorts that went missing from his locker or something to that effect – indeed, ‘reports in Spain’ this morning have it that Ronaldo has informed Florentino Perez that he wishes to leave because he is ‘sad’.

What on Earth could the matter be? Some are suggesting that he’s unhappy to see a few of his colleagues treated poorly (Coentrao – held in the same regard as canine faeces by Real fans, Carvalho – told to bog off or retire by Mourinho, etc) by the club over the last few months.

Some say he’s angling for a new contract, others reckon it’s something to do with him finding an erroneous hair in his industrial-sized tub of wet-look gel 10 minutes before the Granada game.

Perhaps we’ll never know. What’s your theory people of Pies?

(Thanks to @TouchlineDrama for the transcript)

Posted in La Liga, Real Madrid, Transfers & Rumours, Videos

Share this article: Email

23 Comments

  1. One England Captain says:

    Wants a new contact just like Rooney did.

  2. Zam says:

    They took away the mirror in the locker room, he was pissed because he couldn’t do his hair at half time.

  3. XYZZZ says:

    He just got his period started

  4. dsffds says:

    he was denied entry to the gay night club – for gay MEN only

  5. Window says:

    @dsffds hahahaha hilarious comment!!!!

  6. Anabelle says:

    The article comes accross as lighthearted, but the real “reality” this story has a lot of implications. Also because of crude translation, the word “triste” “sad” has different meanings in Portuguese, and in this context it means he’s “unhappy, disappointed, the player feels he’s being disrespected.”

    There’s a rift in the dressing room between Spanish and Portuguese players to the point that the environment has become dysfunctional, with Management doing nothing to fix and just ignoring with hopes it’ll go away.

    It has nothing to do with wanting more money. Ronaldo is just sick and tired of the way the fans, the media, and his team mistreat him. He’s not getting the respect he deserves, and he’s right. I have a whole new respect for him now, besides who wants to be treated like garbage.

    This creates a whole new set of problems for Real Madrid, and they should have seen this coming.

    When a player wants to leave, and one as important as Ronaldo, it changes everything.

    All of a sudden, the CL’s Group of Death will have a whole new meaning.

  7. Redskywalker7 says:

    I agree with @Pkhakheria

  8. lfc_man says:

    Where does one go from Real Madrid? Man City/Chelsea?

  9. jon says:

    @Anabelle He’s a douche. Fans and media don’t like douches.

  10. Flying with Pigs says:

    Come to Arsenal!

  11. Matt says:

    im pretty sure it has somthing to do with the anniversary of the death of his father

  12. MattTheDagger says:

    im pretty sure it has somthing to do with the anniversary of the death of his father

  13. lolzasaurus says:

    Apparently it is because RM would not let him take the day off on the 7th anniversary of his father’s premature death. They were super close

  14. Onecandream says:

    He will join Liverpool lol

  15. Ali says:

    I’m pretty sure it’s the Clause in his contract stating that he should be the highest paid footballer in the world, as Eto’o is now earning £300,000 a week so CR7 should have a similar wage and he doesn’t

  16. mia says:

    @Anabelle: Sorry, who is “mistreating” Cristiano? How exactly is he being treated like “garbage?” If he was being treated so badly, he would have left long ago. That ego wouldn’t be able to take anything less than adulation. Only months ago, he said he’d happily end his career in Madrid but it wasn’t up to him alone (and we can all guess what that probably means).

    So he’s having a bit of a rough patch, but to say he’s being treated so poorly by the fans is ridiculous–have you been on Twitter and Tumblr today? The boy’s got a lot of Madridista love for him out there, especially among the fangirls. As for his teammates, I really don’t think anyone is stupid enough to treat the biggest star/highest scorer on the team (in the city, in that half of the country, etc.) like “garbage.” The way you describe the situation, you’d think Cris was a sensitive little wimp getting pushed around by the big, bad Spaniards. Nope, not buying it.

    Whatever the “professional” issue is, he made a point of stopping for the press to drop just enough of a hint about it, so all I can say about that is his timing is impeccable. He got the crazy, week-long reaction he wanted. I hope it was worth whatever it is he’s trying to make happen with the club.

  17. Anonymous says:

    I believe when he signed for Madrid there was a clause that he would be the highest paid football player in the world and they should match any player in any league. So now drogba and ibrahimovic get more than him.

  18. bergkampisgod says:

    @Anabelle- ‘the CL’s Group of Death will have a whole new meaning’? What’s that then?

  19. suiggle says:

    Yeah, yeah, yeah, he’s gay, he’s a woman blah blah intercoursing blah.

    Anyway.

    I haven’t a clue (I’ve also read that it’s to do with the anniversary of his father’s death, and/or lingering disappointment from the semi-final defeat at the Euros) but without knowing I’m inclined to think ‘fair enough’.

  20. Madrid4ever says:

    Yeah, I really think it’s just a rough patch he’s going through. I can’t imagine him leaving Real, though, not at all. Though I might just be saying that cause I really want him there. (Did I mention REALLY?) Well, the fact that Real didn’t let him take the day off for his Dad’s death anniversary was new to me. Really? Well, then he’s got the right to be pissed. And you guys just sound dumb with the ‘He’s gay’ and the ‘couldn’t fix his hair’ junk–he’s just BRILLIANT and nothing’s gonna change that any time soon. And that kind of attitude towards homo-bigotry isn’t that nice, don’t you think?
    Well, CR7’s re definitely staying. He’ll get over it soon, hopefully. And he said he won’t leave Real if it’s his choice.
    @Mis: Totally agree with everything you said.
    LOVE CRISTIANO!! HALA MADRID FOREVER!!

  21. XYZZZ says:

    @Anabelle “besides who wants to be treated like garbage” – if that means earning hundreds of thousands of Euros weekly, than I guess many would be fine with that, you dumb b!tch

  22. Michael_D says:

    Uh, rage much guys? @Anabelle was simply offering a more nuanced, contextual translation of what he said. Thanks for that, btw because it is important to understand the nature of why he’s behaving the way he is.

    As much as I don’t care for CR as a player, he is still a person – reportedly, yes, I know – and as such has his ups and downs. And particularly if its something personal, as in the the anniversary of the death of a loved one, I don’t think anyone can really hold that against someone else, can they? Despite the fact that he makes millions of Euro a year and awards a-plenty, losing the people you love trumps all of that. If in fact that is the case, for once I actually sympathize with him.

Leave a Reply to lfc_man