Cristiano Ronaldo's agent brands Uefa Player of the Year award snub 'ridiculous' and 'shameful'
Luka Modric got the nod after helping Madrid win a third straight Champions League title, and fourth in five seasons, before leading his country to the World Cup final
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Your support makes all the difference.Cristiano Ronaldo's snub as Uefa Player of the Year has been described as "ridiculous" and "shameful" by his agent Jorge Mendes.
Luka Modric got the nod after helping Madrid win a third straight Champions League title, and fourth in five seasons, before leading his country to the World Cup final.
Voting was collated from Champions League coaches and invited journalists from across Europe.
Madrid swept the awards for performances in last season's Champions League after goalkeeper Keylor Navas, defender Sergio Ramos, midfielder Modric and Ronaldo claiming the individual positional prizes.
But the decision to award the overall award to Modric, rather than Ronaldo, has left Mendes extremely disappointed after the Portuguese forward "carried" Real to a third successive crown.
“Simply ridiculous,” he told Portuguese newspaper Record. “Football is played within the four lines and there, Cristiano Ronaldo won. He scored 15 goals, carried Real Madrid on his back to conquer the Champions League once again.
“It’s simply ridiculous, shameful.”
Mendes wasn't the only one disappointed either with Ronaldo's new employers, Juve, equally unimpressed.
"Our criticism concerns a deep bitterness for this decision, because the award refers to the Champions League and not to the World Cup and I believe that Cristiano Ronaldo has given the best emotions of the last edition and also fantastic goals," chief executive Giuseppe Marotta said.
"I take nothing away from the decision of journalists and coaches, but I would have voted for Cristiano Ronaldo and I say that as a football fan.
"His absence is a personal and private choice that has nothing to do with Juventus and must be respected. It would be nice for us to count some players among those who were given awards, but football is a team sport and we will face this Champions League with great determination."
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