Cristiano Ronaldo was promoting a range of headphones in Las Vegas when he was interviewed by Andres Oppenheimer of CNN Espanol. The Real Madrid superstar wanted to talk about the headphones while Oppenheimer was more interested in what he thought about the FIFA corruption and the Qatar World Cup. The result, an insight into what players are obsessed with in the locker room and Ronaldo ending the interview abruptly with:
CR (English): I can’t speak like that. This is bulls**t. Speak about FIFA, I don’t care about FIFA. And Qatar…I don’t give a f**k. What you want me to do? (gestures with hand). Speak about product, he speaks about FIFA…come on. (walks off)
First things first, this was obviously the wrong time and place for the interviewer to bring this up. CR7 expected questions on the headphones and was blindsided. Second, there was this defensive tone to his answers. The reality is FIFA and Sepp Blatter have been good to him.
CR7 has a soft spot for Blatter. The FIFA head honcho stuck his neck out taking Ronaldo’s side when the striker expressed his frustration with Man Utd for refusing his transfer to Real Madrid in 2008 calling him “a modern day slave”. The remark caused outrage in many black players who accused Blatter of trivializing slavery. Others expressed amazement someone who earned £120,000 per week could be described as a slave.
The striker saw eye to eye with Blatter “I agree with the statements of the president, he is right,” Ronaldo said. The Portugese has been richly rewarded by FIFA for his exploits on the pitch awarding him the coveted FIFA player of the year in 2008 and consecutive Ballons’ D’Or in 2013 and 2014.
The third thing of course is Ronaldo is as shallow and self absorbed as they come. Just imagine the power bestowed by players in demanding FIFA reform itself?