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Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘mark of respect’ to Manchester United fans as he pointedly refused to celebrate his winner in Real Madrid’s Champions League victory was pitiful.
This latest little act along with the diving, disrespect shown to officials and soap-opera-like theatre one witnesses in football every week contributes to the mockery of honest sportsmanship.
So he spent six years at United from 2003 and, despite his denials, there seems to be a certain inevitability to the rumours that he will return to his old stomping ground sooner rather than later.
But Ronaldo’s conduct after scoring the deciding goal was a slap in the face of his team-mates and the Madrid faithful.
Watching his colleagues’ hearty celebrations while he was shrugging his shoulders and lifting his arms as if to say sorry would have been funny if it weren’t so sad.
“It is respect for the affection that people gave me here over many years,” he said after the match.
“I didn’t celebrate but I was happy inside and what I wanted most was to win and step by step continue on our way to the final of the Champions League.
“I feel happy inside because Madrid got through but on the other hand I feel a little bit sad because Manchester United deserved (to win).”
How is it acceptable to show remorse for helping your team win an important match? Have certain players become larger than the game with fans willing to forgive anything as long as they are entertained?
It appears that someone needs to remind Ronaldo that his loyalties ought to lie with the team he is currently contracted to.
For the sake of the Madrid fraternity, the Portuguese superstar would be better off displaying the appropriate emotions to the outside world instead of keeping them ‘inside’.
A club with Real Madrid’s history and stature deserves better.
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