Man City star Rodri reveals phone call from Real Madrid rival after Ballon d'Or meltdown

Rodri's triumph at the Ballon d'Or awards ceremony on Monday night caused a stir among Real Madrid ranks, yet one of their own players expressed happiness for him. The Manchester City midfielder unexpectedly beat long-time favourite Vinicius Junior to clinch the award in Paris, following his pivotal role in City's fourth consecutive Premier League title and Spain's Euro 2024 success.

The decision, determined by global journalists' votes, was poorly received in Madrid, with Real going as far as boycotting the event over perceived slights. Their manager Carlo Ancelotti, president Florentino Perez, and nominees Vinicius, Kylian Mbappe, Dani Carvajal, Jude Bellingham, Antonio Rudiger, and Fede Valverde all abstained from attending, reports the Mirror.

Real Madrid issued a statement to AFP: "If the award criteria doesn't give it to Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should point to Carvajal as the winner. As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d'Or-UEFA does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected."

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In his acceptance speech, Rodri graciously acknowledged his family and teammates, specifically naming Carvajal. Speaking to Movistar Plus+ later, he revealed that the Real and Spain right-back had already reached out to offer his congratulations.

"I received a call from Dani Carvajal who was very happy for me," he said. "I wanted to remember him because I think he also deserved it. He has similar values to mine, of teamwork, of loving a club and of giving everything. We share many things, we have been brought