Madrid, Spain – E be like say Real Madrid don decide to give Ballon d'Or gala wetin dem call a big miss this year again. The entire crew no go show face for the glitzy event wey go happen for Paris today, same like last year. Wetin happen this year? Na Florentino Perez, their sharp president, wey dey run tins like say na him dey control everything, hin don talk say make dem no go collect award wey dem no dey feel say na dem deserve.
Last year, na so dem tear go house after dem hear say dem seven nominated players no fit win. Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham wey everybody dey talk about, finish second and third but dem no win anything. Instead, na Rodri from Manchester City carry the men’s award. E no sweet them at all; Carlo Ancelotti self no fit come pick him Johan Cruyff trophy because nobody from Madrid dey represent.
This year, wahala still dey loom as dem nominated Vinicius Junior, Bellingham, and Kylian Mbappe again, but Madrid still no wan show up. Even Thibaut Courtois fit carry Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper, but all of dem go still dey miss the show. Wetin people dey talk? Dem talk say na purely Perez’s decision, plus the matter dey vex many of the club staff, wey dey think say the boycott go affect their brand.
According to some insiders wey fit talk on condition say make we no mention their names, the way madrid dey handle dis matter don dey cause serious gbege for sponsors and public relations. “Many people for the club dey reason say this boycott na proper PR own-goal. E no make sense at all!” one source talk.
President Perez don dey run the club since 2000 and e don cement him power wella. Every level for the club, na him dey call the shots — football matter, communication, business, everything! But e no dey hold back when e come to talking about how UEFA and France Football dey treat Madrid. Dem dey feel say dem no give their players fair share of recognition during award times.
Talk dey say UEFA and its president, Aleksander Ceferin, get small grudge with Madrid too. Some people dey claim say the way Madrid dey push Super League no help matter. Na so, this year, dem still dey snub Ballon d’Or like say na bad news. Even their women team wey get Caroline Weir and Linda Caicedo wey don show skills, dem no even recognize dem achievements. Na serious matter for the Madrid camp as dem no wan show support for anything Ballon d’Or related.
Last year, na after dem receive hot slap from Barcelona when dem lose 4-0 for El Clásico, Madrid decide to boycott the award. E be like say dem wan divert attention from wetin dey happen on the pitch. So, wetin go happen now? E be like say Madrid self dey ready to face bigger issues ahead in this new season no matter wetin happen.
As e be now, Madrid fans dem dey send message to UEFA and France Football say dem no fit do anything without Madrid’s presence. The Ballon d’Or don start to resemble drama when na Madrid dey absent. Na only time go tell wether dis fight na the right move for Madrid or if dey go need rethink their strategy moving forward.
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