Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t happy with Real Madrid.
Ronaldo didn’t put it that bluntly, but he did little to hide his feelings about Real Madrid’s activity in the summer 2014 transfer market.
Under the direction of president Florentino Perez and head coach Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid added new players to and discarded others from the squad that won last season’s UEFA Champions League and Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup).
Real Madrid sold midfield linchpins Xabi Alonso and Angel di Maria to Bayern Munich and Manchester United, respectively. The Spanish giant also sold talented young striker Alvaro Morata to Juventus and allowed goalkeeper Diego Lopez to join AC Milan on a free transfer.
Real Madrid signed 2014 World Cup stars Keylor Navas, Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez as well as Manchester United striker Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez to bolster its goalkeeping, midfield and attacking ranks.
However, Real Madrid’s the £95 million ($156.5 million) spending spree left Ronaldo less than enthused, according to Marca.
“I have a very definite opinion, but I am not always allowed to say what I think,” Ronaldo told the Spanish newspaper. “Otherwise, tomorrow I’d be on the front pages of all the papers and I don’t want that.
“If I were in charge, perhaps I wouldn’t have done it like this. But if the president thinks that the best thing for the team is to sign the players he signed, and let others leave, then his decisions must be respected and supported.”
Ronaldo is concerned that the changes will force Real Madrid to alter its playing style that helped it achieve so much success last season.
“With the new players, our style is going to change, but it might change for the better or for the worse,” Ronaldo said. “Let’s hope it will be for the better because they are top quality players. What usually happens is that they adapt well. Di María and Xabi Alonso were very important to us, but they aren’t here anymore and we have to be happy with the newcomers. I’m sure that things will go well for us.”
While Ronaldo’s comments were diplomatic and left himself room to maneuver when he speaks to Perez and Ancelotti, it’s clear that Real Madrid has entered a new era. Real Madrid finally won the “Decima” or 10th European Cup which it coveted so much, but it will try to defend its continental crown with a different cast of characters — despite the apparent misgivings of its best and highest-paid player.
