Cristiano Ronaldo was pointedly not available for the Champions League draws after it emerged that he lost out on the ‘Player of the Year’ award.
The Juventus forward was pipped by his former teammate, Luka Modric, who won the award after helping Real Madrid to their third successive Champions League Trophy.
While he was awarded with the ‘forward of the year’ award for his 15 goals in the competition, he was less than pleased by the snub.
And airing his dissatisfaction with his agent’s snub, Jorge Mendes said that Cristiano Ronaldo’s stats could not be discountenanced.
He said: “Football is played on the field and that’s where Cristiano won,” he told Record . “He scored 15 goals, carried Real Madrid on his back and conquered the Champions League again.
“It’s ridiculous, shameful. The winner is not in doubt, as Ronaldo is the best in his position.”
He wasn’t the only one disappointed with Modric winning over Cristiano Ronaldo, Juventus director Giuseppe Marotta also stated that he expected a Ronaldo win
“The no-show was a personal decision of Cristiano, which we want to respect,” he told Sky Sport.
” Our criticism concerns a deep bitterness for this decision, because the award refers to the Champions League and not to the World Cup and I believe that Cristiano Ronaldo has given the best emotions of the last edition and also fantastic goals.
“I take nothing away from the decision of journalists and coaches, but I would have voted for Cristiano Ronaldo and I say that as a football fan.
“His absence is a personal and private choice that has nothing to do with Juventus and must be respected. It would be nice for us to count some players among those who were given awards, but football is a team sport and we will face this Champions League with great determination.”
Ronaldo will be back in the Champions League, this time with Juventus who were drawn in Group H along with the Portuguese’s former club, Manchester United, Valencia and Young Boys.