Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo Nearly 'Came to Blows' After Post-Match Row in 2013

Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho nearly "came to blows" regarding the Real Madrid star's failure to track back after a game with Valencia in 2013, according to an extract from Guillem Balague's new autobiography on the Portuguese footballer.

The book, set for release this week, titled Cristiano Ronaldo: The Biography, details how the pair clashed after Mourinho reprimanded the three-time Ballon d'Or winner while he was manager at Real. Ronaldo took exception to Mourinho's comments and the now Chelsea boss responded by delivering a stern message to his fellow countryman, as reported by the ​Telegraph.

Balague's extract read: "The tension was reaching breaking point in the Real Madrid dressing room. They faced Valencia in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals in January 2013 and, in the last stages of the first leg, Jose Mourinho’s side were winning 2-0.

"With 10 minutes remaining, the coach very pointedly told Cristiano Ronaldo to track back. He also reprimanded him for hurriedly taking a throw-in that Mesut Özil was unable to control, allowing Valencia to break and provide the final fright of the match.

"Mourinho, whose blood was no longer boiling by the time he reached the dressing room, reminded Cristiano of the reason for the instruction on the pitch: “If they get a goal against us…”

"The player, unable to contain his fury, got up from the bench where he was changing and began shouting, “After everything I’ve done for you, this is how you treat me! How dare you say that to me?!”

"The dressing room turned deadly silent. Mourinho tried to remain calm. “I was saying it for the team, because the team needed you to track back.”

"As he could see Cristiano had no intention of calming down, he gradually retreated. Soon after, he approached the forward again to resume the conversation with less tension. But Ronaldo fired back angrily. Mourinho was unable to contain himself any longer.

“Just so you know,’ he shouted for everybody to hear, “many think like me here, but don’t dare say it, they don’t have the balls to tell you.”

"Many of the players who witnessed the scene had demanded that Mourinho, either directly or through the coaching staff, ask Ronaldo to defend more. The situation escalated to the point where Cristiano had to be held back (some sources say by Casillas, others say by Arbeloa and Khedira, or even Sergio Ramos) to prevent the pair from coming to blows.

"Ronaldo took what should have been understood as a tactical comment as a personal attack. The relationship between Mourinho and Ronaldo would never be the same again."

Cristiano Ronaldo CR7 Underwear Campaign Turns The Footballer Into A Work Of Art

Cristiano Ronaldo isn't content with being the best football player in the world, a top model and a fashion designer... he wants to be a work of art too.
The Real Madrid star has just dropped the campaign for his fifth CR7 Underwear collection, featuring his gym-honed body as a 'canvas'.
"Our bodies are a blank canvas and underwear is the first thing we put on," he announced.

The shoot involved having paint splashed across his iconic physique which, according to Ronaldo, represents the "colours of the world" surrounding him when he sees a stadium full of cheering fans.
"I think it’s important to experiment with fashion and not take yourself too seriously – adding colour into your outfits, even subtly with underwear, is the perfect way to do this," he said of the black and white trunks.

Ronaldo, a self-confessed "perfectionist", also revealed he takes a pretty hands on approach with the designs for his collection.
"The most satisfying part is wearing styles that were once just a few sketches on the drawing board," he said.


The 31-year-old also revealed that "it's not every day that you have people throwing coloured pigments over you," but that after five minutes on the shoot, he "felt completely at home."
"By the end of the shoot it was everywhere - in my hair, all over my body, in my eyes," he said. "But it was a lot of fun and I love the final result."
We're super happy for him.

Cristiano Ronaldo Statue Vandalized

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - JANUARY 11: (L-R) Neymar of Brazil and FC Barcelona, Lionel Messi of Argentina and FC Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Real Madrid pose for a photo after a press conference prior to the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2015 at the Kongresshaus on January 11, 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo : Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

Cristiano Ronaldo may not have been awarded the 2015 Ballon d’Or best player but there is no question that the Portuguese player has established his mark as one of the legendary soccer players in the world.

Everyone knows that Lionel Messi won the award over his rival and seeing the popularity of the two pro football players, it may not come as a surprise if the following of each would go a bit overboard.

Such is a practice in any sport though there are limitations. And with all due respect to Ronaldo, desecrating and vandalizing a monument put up in honor of his achievements is something that does come a bit foul.

For the sanely minded fans, most will agree that vandalizing a statue with the name of their idol (in this case Messi) is a bit too much. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if Messi himself would condone the act.
 
Word of the vandalism made on the statue came out in the open from Ronaldo’s sister (Katia Aveiro) via Twitter. Rightfully so, she was pretty much upset at what the vandals (who are likely to be fans of Messi) but goes on to say that such sheds a bad light to the world’s leading island destination (Funchal, Madeira).

The statue was put up back in 2014, a memorial for Ronaldo and something unveiled as part of his personal museum via SB Nation.

Aveiro lamented the low act, something obviously meant to add insult to injury (with reference to Messi being named the World’s Best Male Player):

"This is a disgraceful act of vandalism in itself but just shows the levels of jealousy that exist. As a Portuguese citizen it embarrasses and saddens me. This island is clearly still inhabited by savages who have no respect and don’t know how to live in a respectable society," Aveiro was quoted as saying via the Daily Mail.

As of this writing, there are no leads on who the perpetrators could be. There is the possibility that the ones responsible behind it may never be known.

The thing is that this poor act of sportsmanship was pretty much uncalled for. It cannot be justified and disrespecting someone who has made his contributions to the sport has been obviously overlooked.

It remains to be seen if Ronaldo or even Messi speaks on the dastardly act, something both legendary players are likely to call foul. Then again, these instances point out that both are powerless over unruly fans/followers.

Ballon d’Or 2015: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar shortlisted for prize

The Barcelona pair Lionel Messi and Neymar will be up against Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo in the vote to be named the Ballon d’Or 2015 winner.

Ronaldo has won the world’s top player award for the last two years after ending Messi’s four-year winning streak, while Neymar makes the shortlist for the first time. The winner will be announced at a gala in Zurich on 11 January when a series of other awards are handed out.

Messi is the odds-on favourite to win his fifth Ballon d’Or and Ronaldo feels there is no reason to expect an upset. “To be honest I think Messi is going to win this year because this kind of trophy, it depends on votes,” the Portugal international said earlier this month. “You win competitions, you win the Champions League you win the league in terms of individual. I did probably the best season of my career which is good and I was the highest scorer in Europe [but] it’s all about votes. It is difficult and to be honest I am not very worried about that because as I said many times, I never thought I would win three times to be honest.”

Neymar scored twice as Barcelona beat Real Sociedad on Saturday, and afterwards spoke of his pride at being included among the contenders. “I have never played football to be the best player in the world, or to win the Ballon d’Or,” said the Brazil forward. “I’ve always just played with the idea of continually getting better, to always surpass my goals, to always be better, play better, train better. To be the best in the world is the direct result of all of this work. If today I am being spoken of in such terms, it is a clear sign that what I am doing is working.”

The men’s world coach of the year shortlist features Chile’s Copa América winner Jorge Sampaoli, alongside Bayern Munich’s Pep Guardiola and Barcelona’s Luis Enrique.

The women’s world player of the year shortlist is headed by the American World Cup winner Carli Lloyd, Aya Miyama (Japan) and Celia Sasic (Germany). England’s Mark Sampson makes the women’s football coach of the year shortlist, alongside Jill Ellis (US) and Norio Sasak (Japan).

Three finalists for the Puskás Award have also been announced, with Fleetwood Town’s David Ball missing out. The shortlist is: Alessandro Florenzi for Roma against Barcelona in September, Wendell Lira for Atlético GO v Goianesia in March, and Messi for Barça v Athletic Bilbao in May’s Copa del Rey final.

Cristiano Ronaldo says Barcelona move not off limits: 'Everything is open, all leagues'

Portugal star, 30, says it would be ‘complicated’ to play for Barcelona or Man Utd in the future but admits ‘there are no certainties in football’

Ronaldo celebrates another goal in Real Madrid’s 8-0 defeat of Malmo on Tuesday. Photograph: Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo is really serious about keeping his options open for the future. Not even Barcelona or Manchester United’s rivals in England are off limits.

Ronaldo told the Associated Press on Thursday that he knows it would be “very complicated” to play for these clubs, but it’s something that the Real Madrid star doesn’t rule out either.

He said nothing is certain in soccer, so he will not close doors to any leagues or teams, not even Madrid’s biggest rival.

“It’s a little more difficult, but …,” he said, with a long pause, not dismissing the possibility.

“There are things that you kind of already have an idea, that to play one day forBarcelona would be almost impossible, or to play for another English club other than Manchester, it’s very complicated,” he said. “But that’s not 100% guaranteed. As I said before, there are no certainties in football.”

In his interview with the AP, the Portugal forward made it clear that when it’s time to decide about his future, he will consider all options on the table.

“Everything is open, all leagues,” he said. “I may end my career here with Real Madrid. I’m just being honest. I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. If I was 75% certain, I would say so, it wouldn’t be a problem. But I have no idea.”

Speaking before the launch of his new product with nutrition partner Herbalife, Ronaldo said he may even decide to be somewhere else other than Europe, and that it’s not impossible for him to be playing in the United States’ Major League Soccer.

“Right now I don’t see myself playing in the American league, but that’s right now,” he said. “In two or three years I may think differently.”

He said that in the future he may be at a stage of his life in which he might prefer playing in the US, instead of the more traditional European leagues.

“These are always difficult questions to answer because we never know what’s going to happen tomorrow,” he said. “And as a football professional, this is always an unknown, so I prefer to stay in the present. The present is good and I’m enjoying being at Real Madrid. But in a few years I don’t know how I’m going to be thinking.”

Ronaldo has a contract with Real Madrid until 2018, but there has been widespread speculation about him leaving the Spanish club – despite having become its all-time leading scorer. Those rumors gained ground after his brief sideline meeting with Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc in a recent match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, but Ronaldo has been downplaying any immediate move out of Madrid.

“When it’s closer to ending my contract I’m going to have to make decisions, whether it’s staying at Real Madrid or going to another club or ending my career in a few years,” the 30-year-old Ronaldo said.

“It’s normal. That’s why I’m not worried, because I know that everything has a beginning and everything has an end. I’m ready for that. I’m ready to stay at Real Madrid, to leave, to end my career when it’s time. It’s part of my job.”

The Portugal star, voted the best player in the world three times, played six seasons with Manchester United before joining Madrid in 2009.

Cristiano Ronaldo: I want to retire with 'dignity', not in USA, Qatar or Dubai

Ronaldo said he wanted to finish his career ‘with dignity’ in an interview slated to air Saturday on ITV. Photograph: Hotsauce/REX Shutterstock

Cristiano Ronaldo said on Thursday that he wants to end his career “with dignity” and not playing in “the United States, Qatar or Dubai”.

The Real Madrid and Portugal star, the subject of a new documentary that premiered on Monday in London, said in an interview on ITV’s The Jonathan Ross Show that he expected to play six or seven more seasons and hoped to finish his career at the highest level.

The remarks ostensibly referenced the recent wave of top players who have finished their careers outside of Europe’s top leagues, among them MLS imports Didier Drogba, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Andrea Pirlo and David Villa, along with Xavi, the lifelong Barcelona midfielder who signed with Qatari club Al Sadd in May.

“That does not mean it’s bad play in the leagues of the United States, Qatar or Dubai, but I do not see myself there,” Ronaldo said.

Ronaldo, who turns 31 in February, became Real Madrid’s all-time leading goalscorer last month and has thrice won the Ballon d’Or.

In March, Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl reported that Ronaldo’s plan was to head to MLS upon the expiration of his contract in 2018, citing multiple sources. Weeks later Wahl reported that not only did Ronaldo plan on playing in America, but he’d already indicated a preferred city: Los Angeles.

Cristiano Ronaldo scores four for Real Madrid as they rout Malmo 8-0

Cristiano Ronaldo set a record for goals scored in the group stage of theChampions League of 11 when he scored four in an 8-0 win against Malmo in Group A on Tuesday.

The goals came in 22 minutes. The Portugal forward made it 3-0 to his team seven minutes before half-time at the Bernabéu and added three more in the 47th, 50th and 59th minutes.

Ronaldo, who has reached double figures for a fifth consecutive Champions League campaign, extended his all-time Champions League scoring record to 88 goals.

He is the first Real player to score four goals in a Champions League match, with the overall record of five held by Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Luiz Adriano, who achieved the feat with Shakhtar Donetsk but now plays for Milan.

Ronaldo’s first goal improved his surprisingly poor record at free-kicks. It was only the third free-kick the Ballon d’Or holder had scored from in his last 97 attempts in all competitions, according to Spanish Twitter statistician @2010MisterChip.

The Portuguese also set up two goals by Karim Benzema and Mateo Kovavic put Real 7-0 ahead in the 70th minute before Benzema completed the rout with his third goal of the night 16 minutes from time.

Real finished the group stage on 16 points, with Paris St Germain, who had already qualified in second place, on 13 after they won 2-0 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk.

The game meant little for Madrid because they had already secured first place in Group A but the convincing victory helped ease the pressure on the coach, Rafael Benítez, and the president, Florentino Pérez.

“We knew it would be a strange match because they had to come out and play to win to finish third,” Benitez said afterwards. “We scored eight but it could have been more. I have always said that I am not defensive and this demonstrates it.”

Shakhtar and Malmo, who lost to Nottingham Forest in the 1979 European Cup final, each have three points, with the Ukrainian side securing third place and a Europa League berth thanks to a better head-to-head record.