Cristiano Ronaldo insisted Tuesday his complaint about being glum at Real Madrid is not a ploy to get more money out of the club.
The 27-year-old forward sparked a global media storm when he confessed to being “sad” at Real Madrid, explaining why he did not celebrate either goal after snatching a brace in Madrid’s 3-0 win over Granada on Sunday.
Many papers accused him of trying to leverage more money out of Real Madrid.
Spain’s top selling sports paper Marca said his salary was 10 million euros a year, putting him 10th on the world list earning half of that of Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o at Russian team Anzhi Makhachkala,”Salary is one of the reasons for the Madrid player’s annoyance,” the paper said.
But Ronaldo took to his Facebook page and Twitter to deny financial motives for his misery.
“That I am feeling sad and have expressed this sadness has created a huge stir,” the Portuguese said.
“I am accused of wanting more money, but one day it will be shown that this is not the case,” he added.
The key Real Madrid player said he wanted to guarantee fans that his “motivation, dedication, commitment and desire to win all competitions” would not suffer.
“I have too much respect for myself and for Real Madrid to ever give less to the club than all I am capable of. Abrazos (hugs) to all madridistas,” he said in a message in English.
Ronaldo has still not explained why he is unhappy, saying only on Sunday that it was professional, not personal. “People know why,” he was quoted as saying in the media.
At the same time, he denied being upset because Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta was crowned UEFA Best Player in Europe on Thursday, saying: “No, it’s not that. There are more important things.”
Ronaldo’s statement also sparked speculation that he might want to leave Real Madrid.
But team-mates weighed in with messages of support.
As he arrived for training in the Spanish capital with the national team on Tuesday, Real Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa said: “If Cristiano is sad and needs the support of his team-mates then of course he is going to get it. And if it is the support of the fans, I am sure they will give it.”
“In Real Madrid we are a family. When one member is not as happy as he should be we help him,” Arbeloa added. “When things are not right we all help,” he said.
