Sergio Aguero launches brutal response to Real Madrid for Ballon d’Or snub amid Rodri success | OneFootball

Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero has sent a brutal response to La Liga giants Real Madrid following their boycott of the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony.

Rodri made history earlier this week by becoming the first defensive midfielder to win the Ballon d’Or since Lothar Matthaus in 1990, and the first Manchester City player to ever claim football’s leading individual prize.

The 28-year-old came out on top in a hotly-contested battle between some of the game’s leading stars, and particularly those from Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid squad after their UEFA Champions League success.

However, the decision from voters to issue the prize to Rodri over Madrid’s Vinicius Jr in particular led to anger from the Santiago Bernabeu camp, and ultimately a complete boycott of the ceremony after hearing of the outcome.

Whilst Rodri has accepted the decision from Real Madrid, insisting that they are welcome to attend the ceremony or not, one of his former Manchester City teammates has taken a much stronger stance in response to the La Liga giants.

Speaking on his streaming channel earlier this week, Sergio Aguero issued a congratulatory message to City’s Rodri following his Ballon d’Or success, before issuing a response to Real Madrid.

“Well deserved. Rodri is the best player in the world,” the former Manchester City striker has reportedly said.

“Football is for everyone, not just Real Madrid – they are so entitled,” he continued in a direct message to the La Liga club.

Rodri remains sidelined for Manchester City and is not expected to return to action until summer 2025 after he sustained damage to his anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus during the 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the Premier League.

For now, Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City staff continue to source direct solutions to the absence of their mainstay midfielder, with the likes of Mateo Kovacic and Ilkay Gundogan being the preferred replacements thus far.