It has seemingly been revealed who Real Madrid blame for Vinicius Junior not being picked as the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner.
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As the ceremony in Paris approached on Monday, reports in Europe claimed the entire Los Blancos delegation, including the team's players nominated for the main award, would boycott the prestigious event.
The outcome took many by surprise, particularly within the Real Madrid camp, who had nearly taken Vinicius' victory for granted.
Across the footballing landscape, numerous figures had thrown their support behind the Brazilian to claim the coveted award. However, in a remarkable twist, Manchester City midfielder Rodri secured the accolade by a slim margin.
The ramifications were felt immediately as the entire Real Madrid delegation chose to boycott the event.
According to Relevo, the club remains disheartened by Vinicius' snubbing at Monday night's ceremony.
Reports indicate that Real are placing the blame squarely on UEFA for Rodri's Ballon d'Or victory, with the club said to view European football's governing body as the chief orchestrator behind the decision.
Los Blancos reportedly consider UEFA their primary adversary for several reasons, notably the ongoing tensions stemming from the club's support of the European Super League.
With UEFA partnering with France Football for the first time since 1956 to host the Ballon d'Or, Madrid reportedly believe this collaboration significantly influenced the outcome, ensuring Vinicius did not secure the award.
Check Out: Vinicius Breaks Silence After Ballon d'Or Snub!
Furthermore, the LALIGA giants contend that the criteria used for Rodri's triumph should have ideally favoured Dani Carvajal, whom they also feel deserved the honour.
By Kurt Buckerfield
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