Guardiola, Aguero Speak On Real Madrid’s Reaction To 2024 Ballon d’Or

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola said he respects the decision of Real Madrid to skip the Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday night, October 28.

Spanish and Manchester City’s midfielder Rodri took home the award, ahead of Real Madrid players Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, and Dani Carvajal.

Rodri was voted by a panel of 100 voters made up of journalists and coaches across the world. Aware of the outcome before the event, Real Madrid decided not to attend, resulting in no representatives being present to accept the Men’s Club of the Year award for the Spanish giants and the Gerd Muller trophy for Kylian Mbappe.

Guardiola addressed the situation, saying, “It’s up to them. If they choose to congratulate us, that’s appreciated. If not, that’s okay too. At Manchester City, we respect other clubs’ decisions.”

Meanwhile, former Argentina striker Sergio Aguero has offered his perspective on Real Madrid’s reaction to Rodri’s victory at the 2024 Ballon d’Or.

He described the club’s response as somewhat entitled, especially after they cancelled their participation upon learning Vinicius would not win the award.

Aguero emphasized that Rodri’s achievement was well-deserved, stating, “Rodri is the best player in the world. Football belongs to everyone, not just Real Madrid; they should recognize that.”