Cristiano Ronaldo and the lack of respect with Neymar

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Cristiano Ronaldo is running wild with a goalscoring run that is extraordinary even by his standards, the standards of a man who averages a goal a game, with 443 in 429 Real Madrid appearances. Since January he has scored 21 goals in 11 matches and now has 37 in 35 outings. Real Madrid have come back to life only through his goals, ones which have scared Europe once again, after a few months of poor finishing in LaLiga which he’ll want to forget.

As well has his usual objectives of winning the Champions League, the Ballon d’Or, the Golden Boot and the Pichichi, Ronaldo now has an additional goal, that of demonstrating to his club that they were mistaken when he was written off a few months ago and when the Neymar-centric renewal operation commenced.

That’s why it has been proposed that the tables be turned and that he sit down to negotiate a deserved salary review with the best conditions. Such objectives are the fuel with which he feeds his immeasurable competitiveness, the competitiveness which has led him to the point of being able to compete for the throne with a genius like Lionel Messi.

Ronaldo felt betrayed when the club told him at the end of the summer that his contract couldn’t be improved, even though it had been promised to him after the Champions League final in Cardiff in June. After the shake-up in the market with the renewal of Messi and the world-record transfer of Neymar, who are earning 45 and 35 million euros per year respectively, the No.7 considered it a lack of respect that Real Madrid didn’t think it fair to increase his salary of 23m euros. The wage difference between him and Messi and Neymar was considered an insult to the person who had won three of the past four Ballon d’Ors. As is often said in his entourage, it is a matter of respect and status more than it is a question of money.

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It hurt Ronaldo to know that while he was simultaneously going through his worst moments on the pitch, unable to score, the club were letting slip that his contract wouldn’t be renewed. However, it’s easy to understand both parties’ view. Ronaldo wanted an increase for the services he has provided, while the club wondered how they could justify paying even more to a 33-year-old who was showing signs of decline and who still had three years on his existing deal. The demands of the sport at the highest level don’t allow for sentimentality.

Complicating matters further was the fact that Los Blancos appeared to be willing to do whatever it took to sign Neymar for 300m euros, with a similar salary to the one he is earning at PSG. That would be around 12m euros more per year than Ronaldo, who once again felt mistreated.

As such, Ronaldo has stayed true to his mantra of doing his talking on the pitch and he has looked to earn his salary increase through goals, showing Real Madrid that he is still going to be around for a while. The club have changed their tune and will now negotiate with him at the end of the season, having realised he is still vital. There is talk of a 28m to 30m euros deal, which will also have bonuses. Furthermore, Ronaldo has the support of Zinedine Zidane, who recently stated that he cannot imagine a Real Madrid without the forward. Whether or not Los Blancos still sign Neymar, they also can’t picture a Ronaldo-less Real Madrid right now.

 

Source: Marca

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