Ghanaian sports journalist Collins Atta Poku has opined that Real Madrid missed out on the Ballon d’Or because the club projected the wrong player.
Atta Poku believes the club and Spanish newspapers should have focused on Dani Carvajal, stating that the player had a better season than Vinicius.
He argues that Carvajal would have been a better competitor to the eventual winner, Rodri than Vinicius.
“How Real Madrid projected Vinicius was another thing that worked against them. The entire Real Madrid PR was all about Vinicius, but if there was a player to compete with Lautaro Martinez and Rodri on the achievement level and performance side, it should have been Dani Carvajal.”
“He scored in the final (UEFA Champions League) and was the best player. He was also pivotal in the Spanish team. He won the league, the Champions League, and the European Championship. The PR was not focused on him but on Vini and Bellingham,” he added.
Atta Poku also asserted that Real Madrid’s having three players in the final four split their votes and contributed to none of them winning the ultimate.
“Also, there was precedent to have multiple players in the final four. Liverpool in 2019 had Salah, Van Dijk, and Mane, so the votes were definitely going to split.”
Manchester City midfielder Rodri was announced as the winner of the 2024 Ballon d’Or, beating fierce competition from Real Madrid trio Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr., and Dani Carvajal.
Rodri’s win has sparked debate among football enthusiasts following the event in France on October 28, 2024.
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