Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic labels Cristiano Ronaldo “selfish” after Champions League award fall-out

Croatia’s national team coach has branded Cristiano Ronaldo a “selfish player” after the Juventus forward failed to attend the recent Uefa gala.

Besides helping Los Blancos win their 13th European Cup this year, Modric reached this summer’s World Cup final with the Croatia national team, managed by Zlatko Dalic.

Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammate picked up the Champions League Player of the Year Award at Thursday’s awards ceremony and the fact that the Portuguese star failed to attend caused a heated debate in Croatia.

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos admitted Ronaldo would be “unhappy” that was not named Champions League Player of the Year ahead of Modric and the decision was described as “shameful” by the player’s agent, Jorge Mendes.

Portugal’s all-time top-scorer was, as a result of Thursday’s no-show, was described as “selfish” by Dalic.

“Ronaldo is selfish and I’d never want him in my team,” he said in an interview with Sportske Novosti as reported via Marca.

“He is the kind of player who thinks ‘even if we lose, the only thing that matters is that I score a goal’.”

Ronaldo joined Juventus this summer but is yet to score in his opening four games for the Old Lady, causing some to question whether the player will still be able to maintain his form as he heads towards his mid-thirties.

Yet his presence in Serie A has rejuvenated Italian football with hysteria hitting the streets of Turin when the transfer was announced.

Juventus will be hoping that signing a player of Ronaldo’s reputation will help them win the Champions League, a trophy that has eluded them despite reaching two finals in the last four years.

Juventus have made a perfect start to the new campaign domestically beating Chievo, Lazio and Parma to jump into an early lead but Ronaldo has failed to find the net thus far.

He will have another chance to break his duck when Juve face Sassuolo after the international break as the Turin side look to continue their 100% start.

Meanwhile, Modric joined Ronaldo on the three-man shortlist for Fifa’s Best Men’s Player award, alongside Liverpool record-breaker Mohamed Salah.

Croatia are next in action against Portugal, in a friendly on Thursday evening.

The post Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic labels Cristiano Ronaldo “selfish” after Champions League award fall-out appeared first on Squawka News.

From Squawka NewsSquawka News https://ift.tt/2CpmFlE