Superstars and rivals: Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Photo: Getty Images
Cristiano Ronaldo has denied that his nickname for rival superstar Lionel Messi is “motherf—-r”.
The allegation was made in a book, Messi, by respected Spanish journalist Guillem Balague, who said that according to some Real Madrid players, Ronaldo calls the Barcelona star “motherf—-r” behind his back and gives the same name to any other Madrid player seen to talking to him.
The Portuguese superstar, via his official Facebook page, has refuted his claim and says he is instructing his lawyers to take action.
Balague says the two rivals are not friends, but are polite, if somewhat cool, to each other in public.
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In an extract from the book, Balague writes: “Ronaldo, perhaps as a symptom of the immaturity that marks so many footballers, thinks it necessary to put on a brave face in front of his teammates, not be scared of Messi and to rise to the challenge. All very macho; all very false.
And that is why, according to some Real Madrid players, CR7 has a nickname for him: “motherf—-r”; and if he sees someone from the club speaking to Leo, he also ends up being baptised “motherf—-r”.
In that environment, Ronaldo usually compares their relationship with that between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom. And the Madrid players, with their less than subtle dressing-room sense of humour, have a long list of jokes that include Messi as Ronaldo’s dog or puppet, or kept in a designer handbag belonging to the Portuguese player. And much worse.
Ronaldo fits the Real Madrid business plan and their search for galacticos. Messi fits the more romantic image that Barcelona portrays.
That is why Barca cannot imagine selling their flagship footballer: if the club behaved like a business, Leo would be sold at his peak, when the highest transfer fee could be obtained. If a romantic idea is followed, Messi will not be allowed to leave until he decides to go to Newell’s, on his last legs.”
Both Messi and Ronaldo are nominated for this year’s FIFA Ballon d’Or, world football’s most prestigious individual prize, which is announced in January. Messi has won the award four times, while Ronaldo finally broke through for his first award last season.
Fairfax Media
