Are Real Madrid a ‘business’ club? Ronaldo’s comments are partly justified.

So, are Cristiano’s comments justified?

I have thought long and hard about this, and processed comments from both sides. Below is my objective take on his comments, and I have tried to keep my fandom aside for this.

‘Juventus are more of a family, the best group I have played with’

I have laid out its detail in the last section as to how Real Madrid aren’t really the most close-knit family in football. They were definitely a closer unit under Zidane, but it’s all relative. So, I can understand where Cristiano maybe coming from. It is a fact that Ronaldo was loved unconditionally at Old Trafford, he still is. And is already a favourite with Juventini.

The ‘best group’ comment is related more to it than the ability of the squad because based on ability we all know who the best has been. Therefore, I can let this go.

Players here are humbler, some are not bigger than the others as is the case elsewhere, celebrate each other’s goals’

Now, this is the one I have an issue with, a big issue. Is Madrid generally a humble club? No, they are not. Does Madrid’s dressing room have a certain ego and arrogance about them? Kind of, yes.

However, dear Cristiano, you were the flag-bearer of it. By your definition, you were not the most humble player out there. The whole team was centred around you, and you have expressed displeasure when other players haven’t passed you the ball. There are maximum instances of you having an average response when others have scored, even an angry response in some cases. You were the biggest player, and you demanded to be so. And Madrid fans have stood by you on this, with the rationale that this is what drives you and makes you the best. It is extremely hypocritical and counter-intuitive of you to make this comment.

If you had said ‘elsewhere people aren’t as humble, including myself’, I would have had no issue with this comment. But when you were the protagonist of something, you can’t really point fingers then. This could still be a comment on the overall culture of Juventus and Madrid, but this was expressed quite poorly is that’s what you really meant.

We should also keep in mind that some things have been said from Madrid players too since Cristiano has left. Whether it was the Ballon d’Or marketing comment or not being selfish in penalties comment from Ramos, or ‘you won’t notice Cristiano’s absence’ comment from Ceballos, or the ‘can’t cry over someone who wanted to leave’ comment from Isco, or the ‘more relaxed, more of a team’ comment from Bale. I don’t think the intention was to downgrade or downplay Ronaldo’s contribution (you have to be a fool to downgrade your best player), it could have been perceived that way. They obviously have to say that Real Madrid will still be great and will still compete at the highest level, which is fair, but the likes of Casemiro and Navas put it in a better way. Even Messi said no team is better off without Cristiano, and he is a big loss. So, there was scope for these players to word it better. And they should have done so.